Which is more important -- eating right, or wearing the most popular clothes? Which is more important -- having a high paying job, or having genuine peace? Which is more important -- helping someone in need, or taking time to rest? When we compare things like this, it makes us dig deep and ask some significant questions about what really matters to us, and about how much effort we will put into things. These are questions that we usually do not think about unless forced to do so. Some comparisons are fairly easy (though I bet there are some people whose priorities lead them to worldly answer to the questions above), and some are more difficult. Each of the comparisons above makes us think about what our priorities are.
On a daily basis, each of us is forced to make decisions based on what we consider to be more or less important in our lives. Sometimes we will answer those questions with a view to short term happiness, but if that is our sole consideration, then we are seriously missing what is, by far, a greater happiness and joy. In fact, what we are doing in answering the question of "importance" is not as simple as "what I want". It also carries with it the issue of what impact the importance of a particular thing has on either the greater number of people or the more long term impact.
Let me throw out a couple of other comparisons. Which is more important -- getting your children to their team practice, or getting your children to Church on Sunday? The amount of effort a parent puts into both will determine which they consider to be more important. Let us switch it up a bit and ask another question. Which is more important -- getting a good education for your children, or instilling the Catholic faith in their hearts? Some might say they want both, but if you had to choose which would it be? I have never had a Catholic say that he thought sports teams more important than eternal salvation, but I have had parents tell me that they were going to miss Mass because one of their children had a "game" on Sunday, and they would be cut from the team if they missed it. Their priorities are obvious.
Here is another comparison: Which is more important -- giving financially for the support of your home parish, or buying the newest video game (pair of shoes, electronic device, etc.)? If I were to take the statistics as a testimony of what people think in this regard, then I would have to say that people think that tithing is quite insignificant. Did you know that only a small percentage of Catholics obey the Church precept that requires (yes, requires) us to give to the support of our parish? Yes, some are financially limited, but almost everyone can give something (and that means that the majority of "almost everyone" is in active disobedience).
Let us try one more (and this one comes up quite often). Which is more important -- to go to work when you are not in the mood, or to go to Mass when you are not in the mood? Did you ever think about this? I cannot tell you how many times I have heard people talk about how essential it is to go to work whether they want to or not ("I need the paycheck"), and yet, when it comes to the Mass, they will allow the slightest little inconvenience to prevent them from attending. Which do you consider more important? Most do not have to pick between, but which one are you willing to exert more energy to accomplish?
There are many things that I have mentioned that are a false dilemma. We are often able to do both of the options, and do them faithfully. That is not the question I am putting forward. What I am aiming at is to encourage each of you to consider how much effort you put into these tasks and responsibilities. If you really exert yourself more for your career than you do for your God, then which one do you care about more? Jesus said in many ways that our actions reveal our hearts.
It reminds me of a story about the man who was in process to join the Catholic Church. When he first heard about the Eucharist, he thought it sounded a bit like silly kid's stories. Then when he came to believe in it, he told others that he would give up anything to be able to receive the real body and blood of Jesus just once in his lifetime. He was revealing what he put as his highest priority. So then, what are you revealing?
