They exchanged the truth of God for a lie and worshiped and served the creation rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. (Romans 1:25)
The plan was to wave hello to the planetary giant called Jupiter, exploit its gravity, and be flung beyond. Launched from the space shuttle Discovery in 1990, the Ulysses spacecraft approached the massive layered marble as it rolled across the black reaches of space. But could Ulysses break free of a pull 1,000 times that of Earth? As he rounded out his run through Jupiter’s orbit, he felt the allure of pink, rust-red, and beige dust swirls teasing of glorious mysteries below. The heroic Ulysses turned his eyes from the temptation, and blasted his rockets in a trajectory for the Sun.
What does Ulysses teach us about spiritual life?
God created earthly gifts for us to enjoy, but each has its gravitational pull. Dear family relationships, the tongue delights of an hors d'oeuvre, the thrill of a soccer goal—they draw on us.
“More,” they say. “Do you want more, to get closer?”
No matter how wholesome gifts begin, without moderation they change into false idols. They would keep us in their orbit forever, where we’d miss the far greater wonder of encountering their Creator.
A beautiful sunset, a vintage wine, an attractive person, or anything for which we can find an appetite—the Ulysses maneuver applies to them all. The blast used to jump orbit is a purposeful redirected focus. When the attraction tugs, we must remind ourselves that if Jesus is able to make something so exquisite, then he himself is infinitely more breathtaking.
The trick is to shear away and worship the creative qualities of our Lord, and do it until we feel the gravity of the created pleasure release its pull. I must turn my trajectory to him, for he is the only fulfillment of whatever Jupiter holds me.
Prayer: Father, may created gifts turn my eyes to your Son.