In today's first reading, Acts 14:5-18, Paul and Barnabas, through their faith in Jesus and the faith of the man needing healing, restore a man to health, saying to him: "Stand up straight on your feet," and he does. The crowd immediately proclaimed: "The gods have come down to us in human form," and prepare to "to offer sacrifice" to Paul and Barnabas. Appalled, the apostles "rushed out into the crowd, shouting, "Men, why are you doing this? We are of the same nature as you human beings?"
How easy to get lured into being worshipped! How easy to want the glory and the honor that belong to God! How easy, in fact, to expect privileges that belong to God alone and only to God, not to ourselves. In today's responsorial psalm we pray: "Not to us, O Lord, but to your name give the glory because of your mercy, because of your truth....Our God is in heaven' whatever he wills, he does. their idols are silver and gold, the handiwork of men [human beings]."
Lord, I ask for forgiveness for the times that I worshipped "the handiwork" that the Holy Spirit created using my hands, my intelligence, my creativity. Forgive me for the times I wanted to be glorified and did not give the credit for the good I accomplished through You. "Not to [me], Lord, but to your name give the glory." May I learn this lesson, Lord! Thank you!
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