20251114 THE MODERN IDOLS OF OUR TIMES
4 November 2025, Friday, 32nd Week in Ordinary Time
First reading | Wisdom 13:1-9 |
How have those who investigated the world been so slow to find its Master?
Naturally stupid are all men who have not known God
and who, from the good things that are seen, have not been able to discover Him-who-is,
or, by studying the works, have failed to recognise the Artificer.
Fire however, or wind, or the swift air,
the sphere of the stars, impetuous water, heaven’s lamps,
are what they have held to be the gods who govern the world.
If, charmed by their beauty, they have taken things for gods,
let them know how much the Lord of these excels them,
since the very Author of beauty has created them.
And if they have been impressed by their power and energy,
let them deduce from these how much mightier is he that has formed them,
since through the grandeur and beauty of the creatures
we may, by analogy, contemplate their Author.
Small blame, however, attaches to these men,
for perhaps they only go astray
in their search for God and their eagerness to find him;
living among his works, they strive to comprehend them
and fall victim to appearances, seeing so much beauty.
Even so, they are not to be excused:
if they are capable of acquiring enough knowledge
to be able to investigate the world,
how have they been so slow to find its Master?
Responsorial Psalm |
Psalm 18(19):2-5 |
The heavens proclaim the glory of God.
The heavens proclaim the glory of God,
and the firmament shows forth the work of his hands.
Day unto day takes up the story
and night unto night makes known the message.
The heavens proclaim the glory of God.
No speech, no word, no voice is heard
yet their span extends through all the earth,
their words to the utmost bounds of the world.
The heavens proclaim the glory of God.
Gospel Acclamation | Heb4:12 |
Alleluia, alleluia!
The word of God is something alive and active:
it can judge secret emotions and thoughts.
Alleluia!
Or: | Lk21:28 |
Alleluia, alleluia!
Stand erect, hold your heads high,
because your liberation is near at hand.
Alleluia!
Gospel | Luke 17:26-37 |
When the day comes for the Son of Man to be revealed
Jesus said to the disciples:
‘As it was in Noah’s day, so will it also be in the days of the Son of Man. People were eating and drinking, marrying wives and husbands, right up to the day Noah went into the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. It will be the same as it was in Lot’s day: people were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, but the day Lot left Sodom, God rained fire and brimstone from heaven and it destroyed them all. It will be the same when the day comes for the Son of Man to be revealed.
‘When that day comes, anyone on the housetop, with his possessions in the house, must not come down to collect them, nor must anyone in the fields turn back either. Remember Lot’s wife. Anyone who tries to preserve his life will lose it; and anyone who loses it will keep it safe. I tell you, on that night two will be in one bed: one will be taken, the other left; two women will be grinding corn together: one will be taken, the other left.’ The disciples interrupted. ‘Where, Lord?’ they asked. He said, ‘Where the body is, there too will the vultures gather.’
THE MODERN IDOLS OF OUR TIMES
SCRIPTURE READINGS: [Wisdom 13:1-9; Ps 19:2-5; Lk 17:26-37]
In the ancient world, and although not completely diminished in less developed countries — people throughout the ages have been obsessed with idols. Indeed, many tribes in Asia, Africa, and Latin America still predominantly worship idols and spirits. Without the benefit of modern scientific knowledge and technology, they elevate the forces of nature to the status of deities, recognising their power, beauty, and might, which humans cannot control. This is especially true when people’s livelihoods depend on the weather for their crops.
Within this context, we can understand the concerns and struggles of early Christians regarding idol worship. The case against idolatry is clear throughout the Scriptures, beginning with the covenant with Moses. The Israelites, being agriculturalists after settling in the Promised Land, began to adopt the gods of the Canaanites, as these were seen as gods of fertility. The Trek God of their forefathers — the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob was abandoned as they were no longer nomads. When Christianity spread into the Greek world, it faced similar struggles against the pagan gods of the Greeks.
But idolatry goes beyond the worship of statues. It is the worship of nothingness because all these idols are powerless and transient. It is rooted in delusion and illusion. All idols are projections of human fear, a desire to control nature and protect oneself. It stems from insecurity and attachment to the world, especially to life itself. The danger is that in trying to possess the things of this world, one ultimately loses everything. As the psalmist says, “Those who make them and all who trust them shall become like them” (Ps 135:18). In possessing and worshipping idols, we become like them and are possessed by them. The truth remains: nothing on this earth is eternal.
Ironically, the idols of the past still persist today, even among the educated and so-called intelligent people. St. Paul wrote: “Small blame, however, attaches to these men, for perhaps they only go astray in their search for God and their eagerness to find him; living among his works, they strive to comprehend them and fall victim to appearances, seeing so much beauty. Even so, they are not to be excused: if they are capable of acquiring enough knowledge to investigate the world, how have they been so slow to find its Master?” This is an indictment of the modern world, its scientists, technologists, and rulers. What are the new idols of today? They are relativism, materialism, pleasures, pragmatism, power, glory, and status.
Why are these considered idols? Relativism worships the transient values of life. Materialism worships things that cannot last. Pleasures seek happiness in the momentary. Those who spend their lives pursuing glory, power, and status will ultimately find these goals meaningless. In truth, they do not bring happiness, only stress — trying to keep up with the Joneses and fending off rivals. Pragmatism is short-sighted, focused only on what satisfies us here and now, without foresight for long-term consequences such as population control, euthanasia, abortion, same sex unions, and the proliferation of armaments.
The failure to recognise that worldly things are transient and illusory causes us to labour in vain. At the end of the day, we never truly live because we cannot fully enjoy or love what God has given us. We end in despair and hopelessness because life is unpredictable, as the Gospel tells us. Like Noah and Lot, we do not know when tragedy will strike. Most of us are unprepared, yet the reality is that we can never be fully prepared. Jesus said: “People were eating and drinking, marrying wives and husbands, right up to the day Noah went into the ark, and the Flood came and destroyed them all. It will be the same as it was in Lot’s day: people were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, but the day Lot left Sodom, God rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and it destroyed them all.” Hence, relativism, materialism, pleasures, and pragmatism all end in disaster and futility.
The key to overcoming despair in modern life is faith in God alone. God, unlike idols, represents eternal and absolute values: life, love, and truth. Only in God can we see all things in perspective. With God, we can enjoy creation, as the psalmist did: “The heavens proclaim the glory of God, and the firmament shows forth the work of his hands. Day unto day takes up the story, and night unto night makes known the message. No speech, no word, no voice is heard, yet their span extends through all the earth, their words to the utmost bounds of the world.” Creation is beautiful, so long as we do not transform it into a god, as it is ephemeral.
Instead, we must see God’s creation as a reflection of His beauty and power. “If, charmed by their beauty, they have taken things for gods, let them know how much the Lord of these excels them, since the very Author of beauty has created them. And if they have been impressed by their power and energy, let them deduce from these how much mightier is he that has formed them, since through the grandeur and beauty of the creatures we may, by analogy, contemplate their Author.” We should enjoy what God has given us, but never let it possess us. We must go behind and beyond creation to contemplate the love and beauty of God. Through the things of this world, imperfect as they may be, they point to the perfect God, the source of power, love, and truth.
This is what Jesus asks of us: enjoy creation, but maintain detachment. Like farmers and homemakers, enjoy your work, but do not make it your god. When we are possessed by our work, engrossed in making money and fame, we risk losing the ability to love and connect with people, especially our families. Work is important, but it must be balanced with relationships, service, and care for the needy. Yet we must not make anyone — especially our spouse, children, clergy, or even ourselves into gods. Jesus said: “Anyone who tries to preserve his life will lose it; and anyone who loses it will keep it safe. I tell you, on that night two women will be grinding corn together: one will be taken, the other left.”
We must learn detachment and live in the present. When the time comes, let us learn to let go. Do not cling to anything or anyone. Do not possess what cannot be possessed! Jesus said: “When that day comes, anyone on the housetop, with his possessions in the house, must not come down to collect them, nor must anyone in the fields turn back either. Remember Lot’s wife.” Many people are unhappy today because they cling to what is passing. If you are suffering in bereavement, it is because you cannot let go of your loved ones and move on. You are still living in the past and want to possess someone who has gone over to the Lord. Many are not happy because they keep thinking of their failures, their mistakes and what they have lost out on, the lost opportunities, etc. Until we let go and trust God, we cannot be liberated for life and love. St. Augustine tells the story of a pilgrim on the way to the kingdom of heaven who stopped to admire flowers in a field. He never moved on and thus never reached paradise.
How can we be sure that happiness lies with God and not on earth? Jesus said: “Where the body is, there too will the vultures gather.” In other words, when we see the vultures hovering in the sky, we know there must be a carcass around. We have many signs. Ask yourself, what has happened to all the rich, famous, powerful and influential people today? They are dead and gone! They are buried with the rest. No matter how great you are, you will have to leave this world. Therefore, we should work for eternal values: love, truth, justice, peace, and unity. These are the things that bring true happiness now and in the life to come. They can be enjoyed on earth without fear of loss and carried into eternity, unlike worldly possessions. Choose God, worship Him, and live life to the full –here and forever in the next. You have the foretaste here if you live in freedom and without attachment. So the future is already here, not just a promise but a reality.
Best Practices for Using the Daily Scripture Reflections
- Encounter God through the spirit of prayer and the scripture by reflecting and praying the Word of God daily. The purpose is to bring you to prayer and to a deeper union with the Lord on the level of the heart.
- Daily reflections when archived will lead many to accumulate all the reflections of the week and pray in one sitting. This will compromise your capacity to enter deeply into the Word of God, as the tendency is to read for knowledge rather than a prayerful reading of the Word for the purpose of developing a personal and affective relationship with the Lord.
- It is more important to pray deeply, not read widely. The current reflections of the day would be more than sufficient for anyone who wants to pray deeply and be led into an intimacy with the Lord.
Note: You may share this reflection with someone. However, please note that reflections are not archived online nor will they be available via email request.
Written by His Eminence, Cardinal William SC Goh, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Singapore © All Rights Reserved.
No comments:
Post a Comment