I am off to a short retreat for the diaconate community. Earlier today I was praying the Office of Readings. The scripture reading was of the Ten Commandments and the patristic reading was from St. Ambrose and his discussion of the transcendence of God.
In the scripture, the first commandment is the lengthiest, “I am the Lord your God; you shall have no other gods before me…” and then it goes on to emphasize and elaborate.
Is it not true that the first commandment is still the most oft broken of all commandments? It was true during the history of the Israelites. We don’t usually want to admit this but do we not live as if other things are more important than God? We give our energy, time, admiration, awe and wonder to someone or something other than God?
God is both immanent and transcendent. In other words, God is present in the intricacies of our daily lives; he can be recognized in his creation. How often though do we forget his utter transcendence, his infinite otherness, his incomprehensibility?
God alone must we adore.
Who or what do you find yourself adoring in your daily life?
