The word idol is used loosely in everyday language to mean someone who is admired excessively. That hockey player, that teacher, that influencer; our children “idolize” them, and we call it as we see it.
What about us? Do we have idols?
In the book of Ecclesiastes, we read that there is “nothing new under the sun”. As long as there are people tired of serving God, there are idols. And boy, do we get tired.
What exactly is an idol? The dictionary says things like: “a false God” or “an image used as an act of worship”. Many of us can safely say that we don’t have those kinds of idols. But if we look a little closer at ourselves and our habits, can we still say that there is nothing, or no one, but God receiving our worship?
We are very quick to dismiss the behaviours and sins of the Old Testament as irrelevant or not applicable. But if our Jewish ancestors saw what it is that we gaze upon day and night—often denying ourselves sleep—would they conclude that God is first and foremost in our lives when our daily work is done?
Is our love for God lively and zealous? If it isn’t, have we neglected to feed it? Being physical beings subject to natural law, we know that whatever we feed in ourselves will grow. If we feed our desire for entertainment, that desire will grow, and our desire for the things of God will shrink.
On the contrary, when we seek the Lord consistently, our desire for him will increase with each day to the point of hunger for that time together.
In order to keep ourselves attentive to the things of God, we need to first be aware of the many pulls around us and cravings for comfort. How restless and inconstant our hearts can be! Moses wasn’t up the mountain very long before the Israelites started crafting something more exciting and immediately fulfilling to worship. They were tired of God’s timing. They were tired of wandering without comfort and consolation. Too many long, hot, monotonous days in the desert had them wanting something shiny; a new view, a new dance, a new pastime.
We may not fashion golden calves, but we sure do get tired of doing good and waiting well. Waiting for the Lord is exhausting when we aren’t waiting in hope and trust. If we aren’t careful, we will slowly notice the “living for the weekend” mentality creeping in. So many days are all the same. So many similar demands are placed upon us daily. So many pulls on our time and energy. When will we get to rest? When will we get to board a plane and escape the humdrum?
When St. John Paul II was pope, he was asked by a journalist what he liked to do in his spare time, to which he answered with the characteristic sparkle in his eye: “All of my time is free!” That must mean that St. John Paul II loved to let God give him rest when God saw fit! Catherine Doherty, foundress of the Madonna House apostolate, once felt the Lord tell her: “Pray always! I will be your rest!” This became part of her “little mandate”.
When we are tempted to pick up our phone or turn on the TV at the end of a long, tiring day, it only takes a small act of love to change our whole inner landscape. A simple glance toward our Father is a step in the right direction. Tell Him you are tired, but that you are happy to belong to Him, and that you trust He will give you the rest you need.
What if we started seeing our suffering and stress as an invitation from God to break away from our idols and come back to our first love? God made us; we belong to Him, and only He can show us the way to true rest.
Jesus says, “Come to me all you who labour and are heavy burdened and I will give you rest.” That sounds a lot like a promise. Let’s take him up on it.