Romans 1:16-25 / Luke 11:37-41
The use of sacramentals in the Church is a meaningful practice.
Sacramentals are blessed objects like holy water, crucifix, Rosary, holy pictures and statues.
Most Catholics will use such sacramentals during prayer and some will even kiss the holy pictures and touch the statues.
But of course, we are clear that we don't worship statues or use holy pictures like some kind of talisman.
But as much as we know the meaning and the purpose of sacramentals in our religious life, when it comes to our secular life, we get it all mixed-up.
We fall into this problem of making things the center of our lives.
For example, some get so absorbed with their personal computers that they could not see that the computer is now controlling them.
Some get so absorbed with another human being that they create a personality cult and that's why pop singers, movie stars and sports stars have a fan club.
In the 1st reading, St. Paul pointed out that the impiety and the depravity of man have caused them to exchange the glory of the immortal God for a worthless imitation of mortal man, of birds, of animals, or of whatever.
All this happened because the truth of God is suppressed and imprisoned by the wickedness of man.
Indeed, human beings have that ability to suppress God's truth in themselves and deny God's sovereignty.
Let us ask Jesus to cleanse our hearts, so that the truth of God will set us free to worship the one true God.