Open the Bible and let it speak to you.

When you do, it answers questions.

Why is this world so dark? Why is there evil on all sides? Why are the rulers of this planet so much a problem? Why are the dishonest and greedy, the exploitative, the uncharitable and unloving, allowed to amass wealth? Why is it that nature — God’s Creation — is so wantonly degraded? Why are the good so often impoverished while those who are selfish flourish?

The answer to those questions and others about earth is expressed in a simple sentence (1 John 5:19). Let it filter into your head:

“We know that we belong to God, while the whole world is under the evil one.”

Case closed.

The world as it currently exists is under the rule of the devil.

Didn’t Jesus tell us this, when He called Satan “ruler of this world” (John 12:31) and Paul described him as “prince of the power of the air” (in Ephesians 2:2)?

So we should not be surprised in the least if, as Christians, as Catholics, we followers of God, we’re shunned. This is affirmation.

As the passage from 1 John goes on: “We know, too, that the Son of God has come and has given us discernment to recognize the One who is true. And we are in the One who is true, for we are in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.

“My little children,” it concludes, “be on your guard against idols.”

And so the last question for now:

What are the idols in modern life?

Money. Cars. Homes. Food. The famous. Careers. Power. Even relationships (when they are more important than Jesus).

Social media.

TV and music stars (who are even called “idols”).

Education.

Sex.

Our phones.

Prestige.

When we’re worldly, we’re in the devil’s court.

As a writer named Jeffery Poor points out (in the online blog Medium): “An idol is when something or someone becomes more important to us than God. Even good things can become idols when we make them ultimate things in our lives. Anything, or anyone, can become an idol if we place the value for that thing/person above our value for God.

“In ancient times that would have looked like bowing down to worship a golden statue. In modern times it might look like getting our identity from our job or staring at our technology all day.

“Anything that becomes more important to us than God becomes an idol. And we all have them.”

Lent is the time to cleanse them.

We must identify the strongholds in our lives — where the enemy, where the prince of this world, has a foothold (that can become a stranglehold).

In an article called Idolatry Is Alive Today , another writer, Ed Stetzer, adds: “Is it that a 12-inch tall piece of wood or bronze can do something bad to us? Or is it that we do something awful to ourselves when we place adoration and attention that should go to God in other things?

“When it comes to idolatry [and worldiness], the danger is not in an item… it is in us.”

[resources: A Life of Blessings; Michael Brown will give an in-person retreat in Florida in May; to be announced]