Who And What Do We Adore? 

             Give Homage to God Through the Gifts You've been given

Homage is one of the most powerful words ever articulated since the dawn of time. It holds such significance that Jesus makes it a central theme in the Gospel of Matthew.

Paying homage to God and worshipping only Him is a cornerstone of Jesus' message in Matthew:

"…You shall do homage to the Lord, your God: Him alone shall you adore" (Matthew 10).

When Satan promised Jesus the world if only He would pay homage to him, Jesus steadfastly refused, and Satan left. We should follow Jesus's example. How often do we make choices that appease others instead of pleasing God? Do we pay homage to and adore politicians, people in power, or the risen Christ?

Is our earthly mission given by God part of our homage to Him, or is our homage centered on the gods of power, prestige, or pleasing others over pleasing God?

Homage is the submission of oneself to a mission in this life that is far greater than self. Self-esteem is not the end goal. Power, for power's sake, is not the vision of life. Paying homage to God by word and deed with the gifts He gave us is what truly matters. Submission means to be part of a mission, part of a purpose much more significant than you and me.

Paying homage to God is the only adoration that matters:  loving God through our words and actions, particularly with the unique gifts He gives us all, is a way to pay homage. Our most pressing need in society right now is to rediscover and worship the only one who can save the world in which we live.

Returning to Matthew, like the wise men of Jesus's day, we pay homage to the Lord, our God, the only one we should adore. Politicians won't save you. The kings of our day won't save you. Giving in to the wrong desires, no matter how tempting they are, won't save you.

Whatever mission He has given you, live it with homage and adoration to the only one who saves.                                                     

As Fr. Charles Irvin said before he died, "Homage, honor, devotion, worship, respect, and dedication – these are all things that seem to be rapidly disappearing from our darkening modern world and our own American culture. All the more precious, then, is your gift and your example to those around you who badly need to recover their own sense of giving homage and worship to the One who alone can save the world in which we live. Together now, may we be joined in Christ's mission in our world, following in the footsteps of the shepherds and the wise men of old."

Blessings, Coach Weber

Philippians 4:13