The Foolishness of Nature Worship -Cartoon Image Courtesy: Townhall.com
For all people who were ignorant of God were foolish by nature
and they were unable from the good things that are seen to know the One (God) who exists,
nor did they recognize the artisan while paying heed to his works
but they supposed that either fire or wind or swift air
or the circle of the stars, or turbulent water
or the luminaries of heaven were the gods that rule the world.
If through delight in the beauty of these things people assumed them to be gods,
let them know how much better than these is the Lord,
for the Author of beauty created them. (See: Genesis 1:27)
If people were amazed at their power and working,
let them perceive from them
how much more powerful is the One (God) who formed them. (See: Genesis 1:1; John 1:1-4)
For from the greatness and beauty of created things
comes a corresponding perception of the Creator.
Yet these people are little to be blamed
for perhaps they go astray
while seeking God and desiring to find Him.
For while they live among His works, they keep searching
and they trust in what they see
because the things that are seen are beautiful.
Yet again, not even they are to be excised;
For if they had power to know so much
that they could investigate the world
how did they fail to find sooner the Lord of these things?
The Foolishness of Idolatry
Miserable with their hopes set on dead things, are those who give the name ‘gods’ to the
works of human hands, gold and silver fashioned with skill
and likeness of animals, or a useless stone, the work of an ancient hand.
A skilled woodcutter may saw down a tree easy to handle
and skillfully strip off all its bark
and then with pleasing workmanship
make a vessel that serves life’s needs
and burn the cast-off pieces of his work
to prepare his food and eat his fill
but a cast-off piece from among them, useful for nothing,
a stick crooked and full of knots,
he takes and carves with care in his leisure
and shapes it with skill gained in idleness;
he forms it in the likeness of a human being
or makes it like some worthless animal,
giving it a coat of red paint and coloring its surface red
and covering every blemish in it with paint;
Then he makes a suitable niche for it
and sets it in the wall and fastens it there with iron.
He takes thought for it, so that it may not fall
because he knows that it cannot help itself
for it is only an image and has need of help.
When he prays about possessions, his marriage and children,
he is not ashamed to address a lifeless thing.
For health he appeals to a thing that is weak;
For life he prays to a thing that is dead;
For aid he entreats a thing that is utterly inexperienced;
For a prosperous journey, a thing that cannot take a step;
For money-making, work and success with his hands
he asks strength of a thing who hands have no strength. –Wisdom 13:1-19
- You May Know the Joy of Salvation and Eternal Life Today
Through The Good News of Christ Jesus!
Related: For Today’s Most Holy Scripture Readings and More, Visit: -USCCB
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