“We have my favorite prophet, Hosea, again, and I’d like to share a little bit of the first reading,” says Father Jerry in today’s Homily, “He is chastising the people of Israel for creating their own idols, and he says, ‘Thus says the Lord, They made kings in Israel, but not by my authority. They established princes, but without my approval. With their silver and gold they made idols for themselves to their own destruction. With their silver and gold they made idols for themselves to their own destruction.'”

Our work projects, out gadgets, and our diversions and obsessions control our lives, even though we think we control them. It becomes our idol that we surrender our lives to. It is whatever robs our time and attention and energy from what is truly Holy in our lives. God, help us to dismantle the gods of avarice and ego that we have erected, that over time can take the place of You.