DON'T BUY IT! BUY IT!

 

When your mom sends your dad to the store with a list of groceries to buy, and he comes home with items not on the list, what does your mom say? Don’t answer. I already know. Once my wife sent me to the store with a list, and when I could not find the product, the clerk said, “This is the same thing.” If someone ever says that to you: Don’t buy it!

I say that because in our reading (Isa 44:6-8), Isaiah tells the people that their God is the Lord, the King of Israel, its Redeemer and Lord of hosts. He is the first, the last, and there is no other god. He tells them that because others were telling God’s people that it was good to worship other gods. This god will make your corn grow higher. This god will make your sons stronger and your daughters more beautiful. These gods will make your businesses more successful.

We get messages like that today from people. Commercials tell us to eat at this restaurant because its food is the tastiest. Wear these clothes because they are the most fashionable. Download this musician because he or she is the most popular. Drive this car because you will save the world. Others tell us that it’s okay to worship other gods because there are many ways to heaven. And others tell us that what we read in the Bible does not matter today. Or that our worship of God the Father, Jesus His Son and the Holy Spirit are not needed. Some say that we do not have to follow the teaching of our Church or believe the Creeds or be baptized or receive the Sacraments. Isaiah would tell us not to fall for that. Jesus taught that He is the only way to Eternal Life. My advice? Buy that!

With that, let us pray. Heavenly Father, from whom all fatherhood in heaven and earth is named: Bless these and all children, and give their parents the spirit of wisdom and love, so that the homes in which they grow up may be to them an image of Your Kingdom, and the care of their parents a likeness of Your love. We pray in the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.