Give up those things that we tend to worship outside of Christ

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ: Return, O Israel , to the Lord, your God! (Hosea 14:2) Satin takes the opportunity to attack our faith any chance he gets. Today’s reading (Hosea 14:2-10) calls us to give up those things that we tend to worship outside of Christ. When we allow our decisions to be governed by our own desires, we fall trap to a form of idolatry. Desire for approval, escapes from reality, greed for gain, the need for control, or addiction to work or sports can be a huge distracter to our spiritual life. These things can be more important to us then or faith in God. So powerful can these items be that we can no longer hear the loving word of God in our heart. But today’s reading offers us great news, “I will heal their defection; I will love them freely; I will feed them with the best of wheat.” God does not spare one ounce of love for us. Nothing is too good for us. In today’s Gospel (Mark 12:28-34), Jesus is challenged by one of the scribes, “Which is the first of all the commandments?” Jesus replies, “Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.” We are commanded to love God, not the other idols of our life. Jesus loves us, so shall we love him. But Jesus didn’t just stop there. No, it’s not good enough to just love God, we must “love your neighbor as yourself.” The scribe acknowledges that there is no greater gift to God then to “love him with all your heart, ... and to love your neighbor as yourself.” If you can worship God, if you can love God with all your heart, with all your soul and all your mind, and love you neighbor as yourself, “You are not far from the Kingdom of God .” Is there something in your life that is keeping you from loving God and loving your neighbor? Are you over committed? STOP – Take time to smell the flowers God has made. Look around you at all the beautiful graces God has placed on this earth. Look up; turn your eyes to the Lord, ask God to bestow a special grace upon you today. Ask him to allow you to recognize what is important, and to avoid the things that have become idols in your life. Ask him to free you from these chains that bind you to these worthless idols. This weekend is a glorious weekend. Spring is busting out and the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ is all around us. Don’t waste another weekend. New life is among us. Amen! A Simple Prayer Merciful Father, fill our hearts with your love and keep us faithful to the Gospel of Christ. Give us the grace to rise above our human weakness so that we may love you with all our hearts, all our minds and all our souls. Give us the compassion to love our neighbors as ourselves. Yours in Christ Michael Marcon