Pastor's Corner

By Fr. Bob Hoffman

This week, I talked with the students at Mass about how the Israelites formed a molten calf as an idol while Moses was on Mount Sinai. While we typically hear this story and think how ridiculous it was that they formed this idol from the gold that the Egyptians had given them, we really miss the point when we do that.

When Moses received the Ten Commandments from God, the first Commandment said, in part, “You shall not have other gods beside me. You shall not make for yourself an idol or a likeness of anything in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the waters beneath the earth; you shall not bow down before them or serve them.”

It is not just about making an idol. It is about having other gods beside God. The reality is that many of us have other gods. There are other people or other things that are more important than God to us. When we put anyone or anything above God, we have created our own god.

Putting God first is not something that God needs. God needs nothing. God wants what is best for us. When we put God first, we are starting to put things in the order that God intends. When things are in the order that God intends, everything works better. 

Put God first. Put your marriage second. Put your children third. In putting God first, you will be a better spouse. In being a better spouse, you will be a better parent. And everyone will benefit.