“All these things pagans seek”
In general, a pagan is defined as one who practices idolatry. It is a term used to identify a person who does not believe in one God, the Creator of heaven and earth. [1] In today’s Gospel, Jesus says that the pagan seeks three things. What are we to eat? What are we to drink? What are we to wear?
Where do we hear these questions asked and answered in our culture? These seem to be the questions asked we ask when we go out with friends or family. We ask, “What are we going to do? Where are we going to eat?” For many, the most important question is “What am I going to wear? How will I look?” These questions are fine and necessary if we do not dwell on them, but they can become a problem on two levels. First, it can be a problem if we are asking these questions out of fear. For example, if we are asking these questions, “Will I eat? Will I drink? Will I have clothes?” It shows that we do not have trust in our Heavenly Father. The pagan, a person who does not have faith, might ask these questions because they do not know their Heavenly Father and they must rely solely on themselves. Secondly, this can become a problem if we are asking these questions and only these questions. We are not to be concerned only about the material needs, but we should be concerned with much more important questions. For example, before going out on a date or with friends, the Christian might ask more questions rather than just what they will eat, drink, and wear.
What are some deeper questions that a Christian should ask before going out? Will I be led into temptation tonight? Will I be put in a situation where I might sin, a near occasion of sin? Is this leading to God or away from Him? How can I imitate Christ, be a witness for Christ? How can I be an example with my thoughts, words, and actions? Life for the Christian is much more than the basic human desires for food, clothing, and entertainment. The Christian’s concern does not end with the body, but extends to the condition of their soul and the souls of those they will interact with and influence. The Christian looks for the activity of the Holy Spirit in every moment, they look for the acts according to the providence of God’s holy will. Do we care more about the meal we are eating, rather than the soul of the person we are eating with? Do we pray before we eat? Do we care more about what we are wearing and how our body looks, rather than the state of our soul?
Do the material things in our life make us less aware of the spiritual things? Take the Test
Before eating, we should take a moment to pray and thank God for blessing us with a meal. The simple prayer that most Catholics pray is “Bless us O Lord, in these thy gifts, which we are about to receive, from thy bounty, through Christ, Our Lord. Amen.”
If a pagan is a person that commits idolatry, is it possible for a Christian to practice idolatry? As Christians, we might believe that we cannot fall into idolatry. However, the moment we “honor and revere a creature in place of God,” we have committed idolatry. “Idolatry consists in divinizing what is not God. Man commits idolatry whenever he honors and reveres a creature in place of God, whether this be gods or demons (for example, Satanism), power, pleasure, race, ancestors, the state, money, etc. Jesus says, ‘You cannot serve God and mammon.’ (Matthew 6:24) Many martyrs died not adoring ‘the Beast’ (Revelation 13-14) refusing even to simulate such worship. Idolatry rejects the unique Lordship of God; it is therefore incompatible with communion with God. (Galatians 5:20; Ephesians 5:5).” [2]
In our quest to focus on material goods rather than spiritual things, we not only begin to like material goods, but we may start to honor, revere and even feel that we need these things more than God. Desires of the flesh, such as power and pleasure, can even become idols for us. We are also not allowed to worship the things that give us power and pleasure; for example, the state, family, and money. “It is so good to be poor, to have nothing, to depend on God for everything.” [3] In these words of Saint Jeanne Jugan, we are reminded of the beatitude, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs in the kingdom of heaven.” [4] The worship of God does not promise us power, pleasure, or money. It does promise us the kingdom of heaven. The prize of the kingdom of heaven is beholding – being in communion with the King of that kingdom, Jesus Christ. “For where you treasure is, there also will your heart be.” [5] Is the prize of the kingdom of heaven a treasure for us? What can we do in our life to see Jesus, to see heaven as a prize?
In order to keep Jesus in the center of our lives and heaven as our prize, all we need to do is look to the Cross. “He presents Himself to us under an appearance so human, so loving, so welcoming, stretching out His arms on the Cross to invite all to come to Him, showing us the wound in His side as the symbol of His Love. Far from trying to escape His dominion, we should beseech Him to be the sole Ruler of our mind and heart, and the complete master of our will.” [6] Hang a Cross somewhere in your room where you will see it throughout the day and whenever you look at Jesus, remember the great gift that He gave us and choose to live for Him!
So what should we seek? There is a famous phrase based on the journey of the magi, “All wise men seek God.” Seeking God is a sign of humility, a sign that we are “poor in spirit” and need God. The ultimate sign of wisdom is not that we have all the answers, but that we know that we do not have the answers. In humility, we turn to God and confess our great need to Him. Saint Augustine spent 33 years of his life seeking truth and finally his seeking led him to God. This seeking is summed up with his famous quote; “Our hearts are restless, O Lord, until they find rest in you.” Just as electrons seek and are drawn to the core of an atom, we are drawn to our true core our nucleus – God.
There are many accounts in the Gospel of how people flocked to Jesus. Many times, Jesus and the apostles did not even have time to eat, but Jesus always had pity on the crowds and made time for them. “People were coming and going in great numbers, and they had no opportunity even to eat…when Jesus disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them.” [7] Jesus was a poor man, he had nothing, but yet people sought Him. When Saint Peter was introduced to Jesus, he knew that he had found what he was seeking. He would later say to Jesus, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” [8] Saint Peter, Saint Augustine, countless disciples and we, today, finally find who we are looking for in Jesus Christ.
[1] Fr. John Hardon, S.J., Modern Catholic Dictionary; page 399
[2] Catechism of the Catholic Church – 2113
[3] Saint Jeanne Jugan, foundress of the Little Sisters of the Poor
[4] Matthew 5:3
[5] Matthew 6:21
[6] Father Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalen, O.C.D; Divine Intimacy; Section 383
[7] Mark 6:31, 34
[8] John 6:68