Introduction:

Catholic Church uses Holy Images for a long time for worshipping God Almighty. Many people lead to a holy life and become saints through the Holy Images. Francis Assisi, Margaret Mary and many other saints experienced divine intimacy through the Holy Images and become saints. St.Francis Xavier always used a Holy Crucifix and he used it even to raise the dead to be alive again. The Lord Jesus Christ pleases to receive honor, love and glory and worship through the Holy Images. Jesus asked Margaret Mary in an apparition that we should venerate the picture of Sacred Heart of Jesus in every home. He promised Margaret Mary who ever venerates the picture of Sacred Heart of Jesus would experience divine intimacy more and more. To day we see many Catholic Christians experience the love and affection of Jesus through this picture. For the past seven centuries, the people all over the world experience countless miraculous healings and comfort through the Holy Images of St. Antony.

But our Pentecostal friend says that worshipping God through the Holy Images is idol worshipping and the Lord is condemning this. Our Pentecostal friend is staunchly clinking to this idea. He is quoting some holy verses. Let us read his quotations below:

Pentecostal’s view:

You shall not make an idol:

In Exodus 20:4-5 the Lord God says, “You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, punishing children for the iniquities of parents, to the third and the fourth generation of those who reject me.”

Quoting the above verses our Pentecostal friend argues that we should not make any idol whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. He adds that Catholic Christians infringing these holy verses are making idols and doing worship through them. So our Pentecostal friend is blaming the Catholic Christians as idol worshippers.

The answer:

Make two cherubim of gold:

But in Exodus 25:18-20 the Lord says to Moses, “You shall make two cherubim of gold; you shall make them of hammered work, at the two ends of the mercy seats. Make one cherub at the one end, and one cherub at the other; of one piece with the mercy seat you shall make the cherubim at its two ends. The cherubim shall spread out their wings above, overshadowing the mercy seat with their wings. They shall face one to another; the faces of the cherubim shall be turned toward the mercy seat.” Here we see the lord asking Moses to make two cherubim of gold that are images of heavenly cherubim and gives directions how to establish them on mercy seat. We know the mercy seat is at the top of the Ark of Covenant where God resided. Let us continuously read what the Lord says in Exodus 25:21-22: “You shall put the mercy seat on the top of the ark; and in the ark you shall put the covenant that I shall give you. There I will meet with you, and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim that are on the Ark of the Covenant, I will deliver to you all my commands for the Israelites.” Here we see the glory of the Cherubim made of gold. Yes, the Lord is giving his Commands to the Israelites from between the two cherubim of gold that are on the Ark of the Covenant.

Cherubim of gold not idol:

He prohibited Moses in Exodus 20:4 that he shall not make for himself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above. But here the Lord asks Moses to make two cherubim of gold that is in the form of cherubim in heaven above. Do you think that the Lord induces Moses to make an idol that he prohibited? Do you think that the Lord induces Moses to do a wrongdoing? Never! The Lord is giving his Commands to the Israelites from between the two cherubim of gold that are on the Ark of the Covenant. These show that he accepted these images of cherubim. Since the Lord who hates the idols and prohibits them accepts the images of cherubim, it is explicitly known to us that the two cherubim of gold is not idol. Idol differs from these cherubim.

Serpent of bronze not idol:

We see in Numbers 21:5-9, “The people spoke against God and against Moses. Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we detest this miserable food. Then the Lord sent poisonous serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many Israelites died. The people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned by speaking against the Lord and against you; pray to the Lord to take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people. And the Lord said to Moses, “Make a poisonous serpent, and set it on a pole; and everyone who is bitten shall look at it and live.” So Moses made a serpent of bronze, and put it upon a pole; and whenever a serpent bit someone, that person would look at the serpent of bronze and live.” Here the Lord Commands to make a serpent of bronze and Moses made it and those who look at it are saved from the snakebite and live.

Even though the Lord prohibited Moses in Exodus 20:4 that he shall not make for himself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth, the Lord asked him to make a serpent and Moses made the image of serpent in bronze that is found in earth and water. Through this image life flows and the people who looked at it are saved. So it is not an idol as the Lord asked Moses to make this. We know that the Lord will never ask to do an idol that he prohibited. Let us read what Jesus told about this image of serpent of bronze in John 3:14-15, “And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.” Thus even Jesus Christ glorifies and compares this serpent with the sacrifice of Calvary cross that saved the whole humanity. So all the images are not idols

Image of Adam!

It is said in Genesis when God the Father created man, he formed man from the dust of the ground first. Let us read Genesis 2:7: “then the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and the man became a living being.” Here we see that the Lord formed the lifeless form of a man that we can say the image of man and then he breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and the man became a living being. Can we say that the Lord made an idol at first? No! It is not an idol. Then what is meant by idol?

Idol is image of false gods:

There is only one God Almighty. Before him no other gods exist. If at all any so-called gods prevails, they are false gods. The image of false god is idol. Man invented them, make them and attributed godliness to them. But they are not godly. But man glorifies them as real God who is all-powerful and omnipotent. So the God Almighty hates them and they are accursed. Let us read Wisdom of Solomon 14:12-13: “For the idea of making of idols was the beginning of fornication, and the invention of them was the corruption of life; for they did not exist from the beginning, nor will they last forever”. Wisdom of Solomon 14:8-9 says, “But the idol made with the hands is accursed, and so is the one who made it – he for having made it, and the perishable thing because it was named a god. For equally hateful to God are the ungodly and their ungodliness.” This means that a man made an idol a perishable thing and named it god and attribute the godliness to them. But they are ungodly. This so-called false god is hateful to real God. So the idol made with the hands is accursed, and so is the one who made it. Since people made their own gods, the Lord hates it and criticizes it. Isaiah 46:6-7 says, “Those who lavish gold from the purse, and weigh out silver in the scales – they hire a goldsmith, who makes it into a god; then they fall down and worship! They lift it to their shoulders, they carry it, they set it in its place, and it stands there; it cannot move from its place. If one cries out to it, it does not answer or save anyone from trouble.” Regarding such false gods, the Lord says to Moses in Exodus 20:23, “You shall not make gods of silver alongside me, nor shall you make for yourselves gods of gold” as there is only one God Almighty. So we should never think of other gods alongside him and of making idols for them in silver or gold or in any other material so as to worship them as real God. Idols are the images of the other gods intended for worshipping them thinking that they are also like our real God. But that are false and accursed. The false gods did not exist from the beginning nor they will be forever and the invention of their image – idol was the corruption of life.

Clarification of Exodus 20:4-5:

The confusion and contradiction experienced in the interpretation of Exodus 20:4-5 with making of cherubim of gold and serpent of bronze because the verses Exodus 20:4-5 are singled out from its context that is found in Exodus 20:2-3. Where as the verses Exodus 20:4-5 say that no idol is to be made, verses Exodus 20:2-3 say why they should not be made. When we read together Exodus 20:2-3 and Exodus20:4-5, the real meaning brought to light is that God is our only God; we must not bow before any other god and for that god we should not make an idol. We have already seen that the idols are the images of other gods indented for worshiping them thinking that they are also like our real God. The Lord prohibits this. The real meaning of God’s command is understood only when all the verses from Exodus 20:2 to 20:5 are read together. Our Pentecostal friend Points out only the latter part to blame the Catholic Church.

So the Lord asked Moses in Exodus 20:2-5 not to have other gods to worship them as there is only one real God. He says that in order to bow down to them or worship them as God he should not make image of the false gods – idols whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Let us read once again Exodus 20:2-5: “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; you shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, punishing children for the iniquities of parents, to the third and the fourth generation of those who reject me”. The meaning of Exodus 20:2-5 is this: There is only one God who is God Almighty and there are no other gods existing. The so-called other gods are false gods. In order to bow down to them or worship them we should not make for our self an idol for these false gods, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. If we have false gods and make idols for them and worship them, the Lord will become Jealous God. So we should not have other gods before him, we should not make for our self an idol for these false gods, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth and we should not bow down to them or worship them. This is what Exodus 20:2-5 says.

If the Lord says that all the images are idols and so we should not make any images, sure he might not ask Moses to make cherubim of gold that is a form in heaven and the serpent of bronze a form that is on the earth beneath. But these are not idols that we saw already. God Almighty accepts these and they are instruments of God for the welfare of human beings. Idol differs from these cherubim of gold and serpent of bronze.All the images are not idols.

Image of golden calf is idol:

Aaron fashioned an idol of golden calf when Moses was with the Lord in the Mount Sinai. We see it in Exodus 32:3-4: “So all the people took off the gold rings from their ears, and brought them to Aaron. He took the gold from them, formed it in a mold, and cast an image of a calf; and they said, “These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!” “ The Lord is angry about these images. In Exodus 32:7-10, “The Lord said to Moses, “Go down at once! Your people, whom you brought out of the land of Egypt, have acted perversely; they have been quick to turn aside from the way that I have commanded them; they have cast for themselves an image of a calf, and have worshipped it and sacrificed to it and said, ‘These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!’ “ The Lord is angry about these images. In Exodus 32:7-10, “The Lord said to Moses, “Go down at once! Your people, whom you brought out of the land of Egypt, have acted perversely; they have been quick to turn aside from the way that I have commanded them; they have cast for themselves an image of a calf, and have worshipped it and sacrificed to it and said, ‘These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!’ “ The Lord said to Moses. “I have seen this people, how stiff-necked they are. Now let me alone, so that my wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them; and of you I will make a great nation.” “ Here we see the typical example of people turning aside from the way that he commanded in Exodus 20:2-5. In the Bible, we come across different kinds of idols. Let us see what actually idols are:

1) Mere idols are gods:

As above, people in those days made their own gods in wood, stone, gold, silver and in other materials and attributed the godliness of real God to those mere idols and worship them that cannot even move. We saw this type of idols earlier in Isaiah 46:6-7 that says, “Those who lavish gold from the purse, and weigh out silver in the scales – they hire a goldsmith, who makes it into a god; then they fall down and worship! They lift it to their shoulders, they carry it, they set it in its place, and it stands there; it cannot move from its place. If one cries out to it, it does not answer or save anyone from trouble.” Wisdom of Solomon 13:10 also says, “But miserable, with heir hopes set on dead things, are those who give the name “gods” to the works of human hands, gold and silver fashioned with skill, and likenesses of animals, or a useless stone, the work of an ancient hand.”

Wisdom of Solomon 13:11-19 says about this type of idol gods thus: “A skilled woodcutter may saw down a tree easy to handle and skillfully strip off all its bark, and with pleasing workmanship make a useful vessel that serves life’s needs, and burn the cast off pieces of his work to prepare his food and eat his fill. But a cast-off piece from among them, useful for nothing, a stick crooked and full of knots, he takes and carves with care in his leisure, and shapes it with skill gained in idleness; he forms it in likeness of a human being, or makes it like some worthless animal, giving it a coat of red paint and coloring its surface red and covering every blemish in it with paint; then he makes a suitable niche for it, and sets it in the wall, and fastens it there with iron. He takes thought for it, so that it may not fall, because he knows that it cannot help itself, for it is only an image and has need of help. When he prays about possessions and his marriage and children, he is not ashamed to address a lifeless thing. For health he appeals to a thing that is weak; for life he prays to a thing that is dead; for aid he entreats a thing that is utterly inexperienced; for a prosperous journey. A thing that cannot take a step; for money-making and work and success with his hands he asks strength of a thing whose hands have no strength.”

Regarding these type of idols, St.Paul says in Acts 17:29 that says, “Since we are God’s offspring, we aught not to think that deity is like gold, or silver, or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of mortals.”

Condemning such idols and its worshippers:

Isaiah 44:9-20 says, “All who make idols are nothing, and the things that they delight in do not profit; their witnesses neither see nor know. And so they will be put to shame. Who would fashion a god or cast an image that can do no good? Look, all its devotees shall be put to shame; the artisans too are merely human. Let them assemble, let them stand up; they shall be terrified, they shall all be put to shame. The ironsmith fashions it and works it over the coals, shaping it with hammers, and forging it with his strong arm; he becomes hungry and his strength fails, he drinks no water and is faint. The carpenter stretches a line, marks it out with a stylus, fashions it with planes, and marks it with a compass; he makes it in human form, with human beauty, to be set up in a shrine. He cuts down cedars or chooses a holm tree or an oak and lets it grow strong among the trees of the forest. He plants a cedar and the rain nourishes it. Then it can be used as fuel. Part of it he takes and warms himself; he kindles a fire and bakes bread. Then he makes a god and worships it, makes it a carved image and bows down before it. Half of it he burns in the fire; over this half he roasts meat, eats it and is satisfied. He also warms himself and says, “Ah, I am warm, I can feel the fire!” The rest of it he makes into a god, his idol, bows down to it and worships it; he prays to it and says, “Save me, for you are my god!” They do not know, nor do they comprehend; for their eyes are shut, so that they cannot see, and their minds as well, so that they cannot understand. No one considers, nor is there knowledge or discernment to say, “Half of it I burned in the fire; I also baked bread on its coals. I roasted meat and have eaten. Now shall I make the rest of it an abomination? Shall I fall down before a block of wood?” He feeds on ashes; a deluded mind has led him astray, and he cannot save himself or say, “Is not this thing in my right hand a fraud?”

Wisdom of Solomon 14:27-31 says, “For the worship of idols not to be named is the beginning and cause and end of every evil. For their worshippers either rave in exultation, or prophesy lies, or live unrighteously, or readily commit perjury; for because they trust in lifeless idols they swear wicked oaths and expect to suffer no harm. But just penalties will overtake them on two counts; because they thought wrongly about God in devoting themselves to idols, and because in deceit they swore unrighteously through contempt for holiness. For it is not the power of the things by which people swear, but just the penalty of those who sin, that always pursues the transgression of the unrighteous”

The idols are lifeless. Actually they are nothing. No god of idol exists in this world. So 1 Corinthians 8:4 says, “Hence, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that “no idol in the world really exists” and that “there is no God but one.” “ Isaiah 2:18 says, “The idols shall utterly pass away.”

Psalms 115:4-8 Condemns the idols thus: “Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands. They have mouths, but do not speak; eyes, but do not see. They have ears, but do not hear; noses, but do not smell. They have hands, but do not feel; feet, but do not walk; they make no sound in their throats. Those who make them are like them; so are all who trust in them.” Let us see another type of idols.

2) Idol gods of Nature & stars:

St.Paul says in 1 Corinthians 8:5, “Indeed, even though there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth – as in fact there are many gods and many lords – yet for us there is one God.” Who are the many gods in heaven or on earth? In those days the Corinthians – the Greek thought that the planets like Jupiter, Venus and Mars are the gods who condition the whole life of the world and made many type of idols for them. Wisdom of Solomon 13:2 says, “but they supposed that either fire or wind or swift air, or the circle of the stars, or turbulent water, or the luminaries of heaven were the gods that rule the world.” Even in India we come across the Lord Fire, Lord Rain, Lord Wind, and Lord Sun and Saturn etc. We come across many idols for them. But the Lord condemns those who follow the stars thinking that they are conditioning the whole world. Isaiah 47:13-14 says “let those who study the heavens stand up and save you, those who gaze at the stars, and each new moon predict what shall befall you. See, they are like stubble, the fire consumes them; they cannot deliver themselves from the power of the flame”. Let us see yet another type of idols.

3) Idol gods of devil:

In Luke 4:5-8 the devil tempted Jesus: “Then the devil led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And the devil said to him, “To you I will give their glory and all this authority; for it has been given over to me, and I give it anyone I please. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” Jesus answered him, “it is written, ‘worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.’ ““ In John 14:30 Jesus says, “the ruler of this world is coming. He has no power over me.” Jesus says in John 16:11, “about judgement, because the ruler of this world has been condemned.” In John 12:31 Jesus says, “Now is the judgement of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out.” Here we see clearly that the devil is longing for worship and he expresses it even to Jesus the Lord and God Almighty. Devil is mentioned as the ruler of this world but he has been condemned and will be driven out. Yet, he induced many races to give him worship and received from them in those days. He caused them make idols and received worship through them. Even now it is evident in India. Devil is seated in the idols and receiving worship through them. He is doing even some super natural phenomena in the idols. ‘Satan Sevai’ in Trissur District of Kerala, India is an example.

We see devil received worship in Old Testament period. Let us read Psalms 106:36-39: “They served their idols, which became a snare to them. They sacrificed their sons and their daughters to the demons; they poured out innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Ca’naan; and the land was polluted with blood.” Let us also read 2 Kings 17:29-31: “But every nation still made gods of its own and put them in the shrines of the high places that the people of Sa.mari.a had made, every nation in the cities in which they lived; the people of Babylon made Suc’coth-be’noth, the people of Cuth made Ner’gal, the people of Ha’math made A.shi’ma; the Av’vites made Nib’haz and Tar’tak; the Se.phar’vites burned their children in the fire to A.dram’me.lech and A.nam’me.lech, the gods of Seph.ar.va’im.”

Any sacrifice, worship or praise offered to this type of idols is offered to devils and demons. St. Paul says about this type of offerings in 1 Corinthians 10:19-22, “That food sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God. I do not want to be partners with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of the demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of the demons. Or are we provoking the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?”

All idols will be removed:

Thus idols are images of false gods and they are not for the God and not the instrument of God. They are not belonging to God but against God. But those people display them like the real God. Isaiah 46:9 says, “remember the former things of the old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like me.” So Zechariah 13:2 says, “On that day, says the Lord of hosts, I will cut off the names of the idols from the land, so that they shall be remembered no more”. One day thus the above types of all idols will be removed from the world

Idol differs from Holy Images:

Bronze Serpent that is said in Numbers 21:8-9 have mouth but do not speak, eyes but do not see. Moses put it upon a pole. He might have taken thought for it, so that it may not fall, because he knows that it cannot help itself, for it is only an image and has need of help. But through this image life flows and the people who looked at it are saved. It is not an idol but it is the instrument of God to give life for the human beings. Thus it differs from the idol. The life comes from the God through this bronze serpent. Like that Cherubim in Exodus 25:18 is covered with gold and the work of human hands. They have mouths, but do not speak; eyes, but do not see. They have ears, but do not hear; noses, but do not smell. They have hands, but do not feel; feet, but do not walk; they make no sound in their throats. Yet, they are not idols. Since it is different from idols, the Lord resides in between Cherubim at the top of Ark of covenant. So there are holy Images like Bronze Serpent and Cherubim of gold that are different from idols.

Glory of Holy Images:

Above the tabernacle the Ark of covenant, the images of cherubim are overshadowing the mercy seat. In the New Testament, Hebrew 9:5 says about this: “above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat.” Here we see that the images of cherubim are also named, “cherubim” that are originally in heaven under the seat of God Almighty. By calling these images, “cherubim of glory” the glory of original cherubim in heaven is attributed to these images that are in the mercy seat. Thus we see here the glory of holy images. 2 Samuel 6:2 says about this Ark of covenant thus: “David and all the people with him set out and went from Ba’a.le-ju’dah, to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the name of the Lord of hosts who is enthroned on the cherubim.” The Lord of hosts is enthroned in the ark of covenant and so it is called by the name of the Lord. Since the Lord is enthroned on the cherubim, no doubt that the cherubim Holy Images are filled with glory. The Cherubim is for the Lord and it is his instrument to give his messages for his people. The lord God favors the Holy Images as they are belonging to him.

Holy image of Jesus:

Even when the Holy Images of cherubim are glorified, how much respect we have to give to the Holy Image of Jesus! Instead of giving respect to the Holy Image of Jesus, our Pentecostal friends are abusing this Holy Image. Holy Image of Jesus is not another god competing against the Lord Jesus. As the bronze serpent and the cherubim, it is for the Lord and it is belonging to him. It is to be an instrument to flow his grace through his image. It is called by the name of the Lord Jesus as the Ark of covenant with the glorious cherubim is called by the name of the Lord of hosts. So it is not an idol. In New Testament, as St.Paul in Hebrews 9:5 attributed the glory of the heavenly cherubim to the image of the cherubim in the mercy seat, we are attributing the glory to the holy image of Jesus. Since the holy image of Jesus is not an idol, Exodus 20:2-5 that says, “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; you shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or worship them” is not applicable to the Holy Images of Jesus

Holy images of heavenly Saints:

The angels and cherubim in heaven are praising and worshiping the Lord and thus they are in the service of the Lord. They are for the Lord and belong to the Lord. The angels and cherubim are in glory. We see in the previous topic about saints that they are also in heaven like angels and they are belonging to lord. They are also in glory. They are not claiming themselves as another god against the real God. They are under the Lord and for the Lord. The Lord God Jesus says towards God the Father about those who belong to him in John 17:22, “The glory that you have given me I have given them”. In Revelation 3:21 Jesus says, “To the one who conquers I will give a place with me on my throne”. Such glory the living saints have in heaven as they belong to Lord. Since the holy image of the cherubim is termed as the cherubim of glory, the holy image of the heavenly saints are also to be termed as glorious images. They are Holy Images as the cherubim of glory and they are not idols to be hated. So the Catholic Church is accepting the Holy Images to give respect to the saints. The Catholic Church has the power to accept the Holy Images as it was given by Jesus Christ in Matthew 16:19.

Jesus accepts Images:

The Spies of the scribes and chief Priests questioned Jesus to trap him by his answer so as to hand him over to the governor. Let us read their question and the answer of Jesus in Luke 20:22-25: “”Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?” But he perceived their craftiness and said to them, “Show me a denarius. Whose head and whose title does it bear?” They said, “The emperor’s.” He said to them, “Then give to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s and to God the things that are God’s.” “ Here the Lord Jesus asked them, “Whose head and title does it bear?” We know that the image of head of Caesar - the emperor is encrypted in the coin and it was not the real head. Yet Jesus considered his image as his real head and asks whose head it is in the coin. They said it is of the Caesar. And Jesus asked them to pay tax to Caesar as the coin bears the image of Caesar’s head.

Here Jesus makes the decision only on the basis of the image head of Caesar that is encrypted in the coin. Since the image head of Caesar is in the coin, the coin belongs to Caesar and asked them to pay what is belonging to him. Jesus accepted the image of the Caesar’s head to the original Caesar. Thus he accepted images of a person. Here we learn from Jesus that an image of a person specifies and points to the person whose image it bears. So the holy image of Jesus, saints or angles specifies and denotes the persons whose image it bears.

Hidden Revelation of Luke 20:22-25:

However the Lord reveals to us another hidden message in this context that is not needed for them at that time. But we can say that it is revealed to us in general. Since the coin bears the image of emperor and his title/ name, the coin belongs to him and so he asked them to pay the emperor the thing (coin) belongs to him; that is to pay the emperor the coin as tax. That means, pay him tax through the coin that bears his image.

Just like the coin that bears the image and title of emperor, is used for paying what the emperor entitled to - the tax, the holy image that bears the image of the Lord can be used to pay what the Lord entitled to - the worship. Can’t we infer this hidden message from the above verses? Think it over.

Make heavenly images:

The Lord asked Moses in Exodus 25:40 to make the holy objects. Let us read the verses: “And see that you make them according to the pattern for them which is being shown you on the mountain.” Moses has done all the things according to the commands of the Lord. Hebrews 9:2-5 describes the things that are made in those days: “For a tent was constructed, the first one, in which were the lampstand, the table, and the bread of the Presence; this is called the Holy place. Behind the second curtain was a tent called Holy of Holies. In it stood the golden alter of incense and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which there were a golden urn holding the manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant; above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat.” Moses sprinkled blood upon them to purify them. Now St. Paul called them sketches or pattern of heavenly things in Hebrews 9:23. Let us read the verses: “Thus it was necessary for the sketches of the heavenly things to be purified with these rites.” Yes the cherubim of glory are sketches or holy image of heavenly cherubim. This, the Lord asked Moses to make. So we can make the Holy image of Jesus or saints that are the sketches of heavenly persons.

Sanctification and grace of holy objects:

When an object or image is sanctified, sanctity prevails in them and grace flows from them. The sanctification takes place through many ways:

1) The Word of God that commanded Moses to do that sanctifies the image of bronze serpent and thus the grace of healing flows from the image that is an instrument of God and for God.

2) Jesus is Holy and thereby his garments are also holy through him. His cloth is sanctified through his holiness since it is with him and it is belonging to him. Grace flows from his cloth and the lady got cured from hemorrhage in Mark 5:25-29. Also in Mark 6:56 we see, “wherever he went, into villages or cities or farms, they laid the sick in the market places, and begged him that they might touch even the fringe of his cloak; and all who touched it were healed.”

3) The handkerchief of St.Paul has the healing power. Let us read Acts 19:11-12: “God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, so that when the handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were brought to the sick, their diseases left them, and the evil spirits came out of them.” The handkerchiefs or aprons are sanctified through the touching of this holy man and the healing power in Paul flows through this holy object. The sanctity remains in the holy objects and flows from them.

4) Even the shadow of holy apostle Peter has the healing power. Let us read Acts 5:15-16: “so that they even carried out the sick in to the streets, and laid them on cots and mats in order that Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he came by. A great number of people would also gather from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all cured.” Even the shadow of Peter is filled with sanctity as it belongs to holy man

5) Let us read Exodus 29:37, “Seven days you shall make atonement for the alter, and consecrate it, and the alter shall be most holy; whatever touches the alter shall become holy.” Also let us read Exodus 30:25-29 “it shall be holy anointing oil. With it you shall anoint the tent of meeting and the ark of covenant, and the table and all its utensils, and the lampstand and its utensils, and the alter of incense, and the alter of burned offering with all its utensils, and the basin with its stand; you shall consecrate them, so that they may be most holy; whatever touches them become holy.”

Here the objects are made holy through the anointing. The anointed objects become holy and the holiness is passed from the holy things to the person who touched it.

6) Another way of sanctification is sprinkling with hyssop. Let us read Psalms 51:7 “Purge me with hyssop and I shall be clean.”

Sanctified Holy Images:

Sprinkling by holy water with hyssop sanctifies our holy images of Jesus, saints and angels and thereby they are made sanctified objects. As the healing power in Paul was found in his Handkerchiefs or aprons the holy objects in Acts 19:11-12, the sanctity of holy persons, remains in their sanctified holy images. Then they are called by the name of whose image it bears. We know, since the Lord present and enthroned on the holy object the Ark of Covenant, it was called by the name of the Lord in 2 Samuel 6:2. Just as the sanctity and holiness remain in the holy objects and flow through them as said above, the sanctity flows from the Holy Images of the holy persons to the persons who touch it or kiss it. The power in Peter flows from the shadow of Peter. The power in St.Paul flows from the handkerchief and apron of St.Paul as his power remains in them. Like that, through the holy images, power, grace and holiness of the holy Person whose image it bears passes to the person who touched it and kissed it. So we can touch and kiss the holy images and we can get grace through them. Thus the power in Jesus, saints or angels flows from the Holy Images of Jesus, saints or angels as the case may be to the humanity. The power in holy persons remains in their sanctified Holy Images and flows from them. We can kiss them and touch them through that we can receive the graces and power of Jesus, saints or angels.

Praying before holy objects:

In Joshua 7:6-11, “Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell to the ground on his face before the ark of the LORD until the evening, he and the elders of Israel; and they put dust on their heads. Joshua said, “Ah, Lord God! Why have you brought this people across the Jordan at all, to hand us over to Am’o.rites so as to destroy us? Would that we had been content to settle beyond the Jordan! O Lord, what can I say, now that Israel has turned their backs to their enemies! The Ca’naan.ites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear of it, and surround us, and cut off our name from the earth. Then what will you do for your great name?” The Lord said to Joshua, “Stand up! Why have you fallen upon your face? Israel has sinned; they have transgressed my covenant that I imposed on them. They have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, they acted deceitfully, and they have put them among their own belongings.”

Here Joshua prays to God. Where? Before the Ark of covenant that is made with human hands! He fell down before the Ark of covenant thinking that he fell down before the Lord, as he is present in the Ark. The Lord hears the prayer of Joshua from the Ark when he fell before it and replies him. Like that, the lord’s power, grace and holiness are present in the Holy Image of Jesus. He hears our prayers from the Holy Images and we can experience his response to our prayers. His grace is flowing from the holy Image of Jesus. This is the same case regarding the Holy Images of saints and angels.

Blessing by holy object:

We see in 2 Samuel 6:11, “The ark of the Lord remained in the house of O’bed-e’dom the Git’tite three months; and the Lord blessed O’bed-e’dom and all his household.” Here we see that since the ark of lord the holy object is in the house of O’bed-e’dom the Lord has blessed his household and all his belongings. The Holy Images are holy objects and so the blessing of the Lord will be showered upon the family where the holy objects are kept. Sure, we experience the graces from the Holy Image of Sacred heart of Jesus when we keep it piously and prayerfully. I started loving Jesus only through the picture of Sacred Heart of Jesus. Millions of people receive the blessings of Mother Mary from the Holy Image of Mother Vailankanni.

Sacrifice before Holy objects:

In 2 Samuel 6:12-13 we see, “It was told King David, “The Lord has blessed the household of O’bed-e’dom and all that belongs to him, because of the ark of God.” So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of O’bed-e’dom to the city of David with rejoicing; and those who bore the ark of the Lord had gone six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fatling.” Here we see David is offering sacrifice before this holy object the Ark of God but it goes to the Lord who is present on it. He is offering the sacrifice only before the thing that is made with human hand but the offering goes to the Lord who is residing in the man made sanctuary the ark of God. And also we read in 2 Samuel 6:14, “David danced before the Lord with all his might.” Here also David is actually dancing only before the thing that is made with human hand the ark of God, but it is said that he danced before the Lord. Yes the Lord was enthroned in the Holy object.

In such a way, countless sacrifices are offered before the ark by the whole of congregation of Israel. Let us read 1 Kings 8:3-5, “And all the elders of Israel came, and the priests carried the ark. So they brought up the ark of the Lord, the tent of meeting, and all the holy vessels that were in the tent; the priests and the Le’vites brought them up. King Solomon and all the congregation of Israel, who had assembled before him, were with him before the ark, sacrificing so many sheep and oxen that they could not be counted or numbered.” All these offerings do not go to the ark of God the man made thing but to the Lord God alone who is enthroned on it. Like that the respect we give to the Holy Images of Jesus, saints or angels as the case may be really goes to Jesus, saints or angels.

No comparison of Holy Images with idols:

Can we say further that the idol and the holy objects like the ark of God are similar to each other? No, certainly not! 2 Samuel 6:17 says, “They brought in the ark of the Lord, and set it in its place, inside the tent that David had pitched for it; and David offered burnt offerings and offerings of well-being before the Lord.” 2 Chronicles 5:7-8 says, “Then the priest brought the ark of the covenant of the Lord to its place, in the inner sanctuary of the house, in the most holy place, underneath the wings of the cherubim.”

In the same way, Wisdom of Solomon 13:15-19 says about the idols, “Then he makes a suitable niche for it, and sets it in the wall, and fastens it there with iron. He takes thought for it, so that it may not fall, because he knows that it cannot help itself, for it is only an image and has need of help. When he prays about possessions and his marriage and children, he is not ashamed to address a lifeless thing. For health he appeals to a thing that is weak; for life he prays to a thing that is dead.”

Can we say that there is some similarity between holy objects like the Ark of God and the idols? The ark is carried and brought to its place and is set in its place; seemingly it is lifeless and so it appears that it needs thought and care so that it may not fall. No, we cannot say so. Even Jesus as Eucharist seems like that. But all along we see the difference between the idols and Holy objects or Eucharist since the holy objects or Eucharist is full of life. The idol is lifeless and nothing and sometimes devilish. Eucharist or Holy object is holy. Even though they are seemingly lifeless, they are filled with life.

Miraculous power of Ark of covenant:

In Joshua 3:13 the Lord says, “when the soles of the feet of the priests who bear the ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth, rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan flowing from above shall be cut off; they shall stand in a single heap.” We see it in Joshua 3:14-17: “When the people set out from their tents to cross over the Jordan, the priests bearing the ark of the covenant were in front of the people. Now the Jordan overflows all its banks throughout the time of harvest. So when those who bore the ark had come to the Jordan, and the feet of the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the edge of the water, the waters flowing from above stood still, rising up in a single heap far off at Adam, the city that is beside Zar’e.than, while those flowing toward the sea of the Ar’a.bah, the Dead Sea, were wholly cut off. Then the people crossed over opposite Jericho. While all Israel were crossing over on dry ground, the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan, until the entire nation finished crossing over the Jordan.” This great wonder happened though the Holy objects the Ark of covenant. The Lord from the Ark of covenant fights against the philistines in 1 Samuel 5:6. It is said in 1 Samuel 5:7, “And when the inhabitants of Ash’dod saw how things were, they said, “The ark of the God of Israel must not remain with us; for his hand is heavy on us and our god Da’gon.” “ Yes, the Lord from Ark of God miraculously punishes the inhabitants of Ash’dod the philistines. This is the power that we see in the holy objects.

Holy Image of Lady of Fatima:

Just like the ark of covenant in Old Testament, nowadays the living ark of covenant is Mother Mary. The second person of Holy Trinity with his fullness resided in the womb of Mother Mary. She gave apparition in the Portuguese city of Fatima on October 1917. When she gave the apparition, the sun trembled and moved like dancing that was witnessed by thousands of people around there. The very same effect was witnessed in some places when the Holy Images of Lady of Fathima traveled throughout the world. The Holy Image of Lady of Fathima fought against plague that vanished from cities, when her Holy Images entered there. Her grace and holiness passed through her holy images to the humanity. We read earlier that through the crucifix of St. Xavier even dead was raised alive and diseases vanished. But one thing we should not forget: Ephesians 4:7-8 says, “Each of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ’s gift.” Like that, the holy images also differs in powers and grace from one another.

Misquoting the verses Acts 7:48–49:

Acts 7:48–49 say, “The Most High does not dwell in houses made with human hands, as the prophet says, ‘Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build for me, says the Lord, what is the place of my rest?…’

These holy verses are often misquoted by some Pentecostal friends to prove their argument that the holy images don’t have any sanctity or divine power. When they quote these verses, they change the word ‘houses’ into ‘objects’ and thus they say that God does not dwell in objects made with human hands so that holy images don’t have the presence of divine power and even Eucharist is not actually Jesus. But the holy verse is that God does not dwell in houses made with human hands. So these verses have no bearing on holy images or Eucharist.

Another argument on Acts 7:47-48:

In the light of these verses some other Pentecostal friends used to ask why Catholics build huge Basilicas and Cathedrals with a claim that the Lord is dwelling in them when God does not dwell in houses made with human hands.

Ark of covenant human made sanctuary:

But in Exodus 25:8 the Lord asks Moses, “make me a sanctuary, so that I may dwell among them.” Moses made them according to the guidance of the Lord. We see it in Exodus 40:33-35, “He set up the court around the tabernacle and the alter, and put up the screen at the gate of the court. So Moses finished the work. Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled upon it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.” The Lord resided in the tent the sanctuary and in the tabernacle with the Israelites. So the Lord is residing in houses made with human hands. 2 Samuel 6:2 says about this ark of God thus: “David and all the people with him set out and went from Ba’a.le-ju’dah, to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the name of the Lord of hosts who is enthroned on the cherubim.” Here we see also, the Lord of hosts is enthroned in the ark of covenant. Regarding this the Lord also says in 1 Chronicles 17:5, “I have lived in a tent and a tabernacle.” Even though the Lord did not dwell in the huge house or mansion when He was with Israelites, He lived in the small house the tent and tabernacle that was made with human hands. Latter in Luke 2:49, Lord Jesus claims the huge temple of Jerusalem as the house of his Father the God Almighty. Then what about Acts 7:48–49 that says, “The Most High does not dwell in houses made with human hands?” Let us see the answer below:

Mercy of the Lord:

Actually what Acts 7:48–49 say is exactly true and the Lord is such a great God Almighty. Yet, out of love and mercy the lord stoops to be with human beings and resides in the tent or house that is made by human hands. We know the Lord God Jesus in order to save humanity stoops to be a human child in the womb of mother Mary and to the point of death on a cross that is out of his love and mercy on humanity. Let us read Philippians 2:6-8 “Christ Jesus who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something had to be exploited, but empties himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” He is residing in the human sanctuary or he is receiving service and worship from humanity not because he needs it but to help us to find him and grope for him. Let us read Acts 17:24-25 &27, “The God who made the world and every thing in it, he who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by human hands, nor is he served by human hands as though he needed anything.” “So that they would search for God and grope for him and find him.” That means, he is dwelling in the human houses and is served by human hands as he is not needed it, but to help us to find the Lord. Actually the Lord created all the heaven and earth and he need not expect to have a sanctuary from a man. Yet, out of love, he is staying with us in the human sanctuary for us so that we would search for God and grope for him and find him.

Exalted house of God:

Let us read 2 Chronicles 6:1-2, “Then Solomon said, “The Lord has said that he would reside in thick darkness. I have built you an exalted house, a place for you to reside in forever.” “ 1 Kings 8:12-13 also says this. Continuously Solomon says in 2 Chronicles 6:18, “But will God indeed reside with mortals on earth? Even heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you, how much less this house that I have built!” Yet, Solomon continuously prays in 2 Chronicles 6-19, “Regard your servant’s prayer and his plea, O Lord my God, heeding the cry and the prayer that your servant prays to you.” Now God, out of mercy and love, stoops to be with human beings and dwells with them. Let us read 2 Chronicles 7:1-3, “When Solomon had ended his prayer, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. The priests could not enter the house of the Lord, because the glory of the Lord filled the Lord’s house. When the people of Israel saw the fire from down, and the glory of the Lord on the temple, they bowed down on the pavement with faces to the ground, and worshipped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying, “For he is good for his steadfast love endures for ever.” “ Here also the glory of the Lord fills the Lord’s house just like the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Thus he resides in the huge house made of human hands out of love and mercy. So the Lord resides in churches especially in the form of Holy Eucharist and through holy images.

Each shrine built and consecrated to God is a monument of our love towards God and faith in his glory. The shrines housed with the holy images of Jesus, Mother Mary or other saints became holy shrines of pilgrimage from where grace and divine blessing are showered upon humanity. Shrine of Holy Land, Lourdes, Vailankanni and the shrine of St.Antony of Padua are some of the examples.

Lord makes the way wide open:

In Matthew 12:7 Jesus says, “I desire mercy.” Let us read Luke 7:36-48: “One of the Phar’i.sees asked Jesus to eat with him, and he went into the Phar’i.sees’s house and took his place at the table. And a woman in the city, who was a sinner, having learned that he was eating in the Phar’i.sees’s house, brought an alabaster jar of ointment. She stood behind him at his feet, weeping, and began to bathe his feet with her tears and to dry them with her hair. Then she continued kissing his feet and anointing them with the ointment. Now when the Phar’i.see who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what kind of woman this is who is touching him – that she is a sinner”. Jesus spoke up and said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” “Teacher”, he replied, “Speak”. “A certain creditor had two debtors; one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he cancelled the debts for both of them. Now which of them will love him more?” Simon answered, “I suppose the one whom he cancelled the greater debt.” And Jesus said to him, “You have judged rightly.” Then turning toward the woman, he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has bathed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in, she has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore, I tell you, her sins, which were many, have been forgiven; hence she has shown great love. Bu the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.” Then he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”“

Here we see the sinner who was not following the law but is repenting for her sin is showing great love to Jesus that he whole-heartedly accepts. She has bathed his feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. She has not stopped kissing his feet. She has anointed his feet with ointment. To show her love she adopted her own way that was irritating to Phar’i.sees and in the parallel incidence even to disciples of Jesus in Matthew 26:8-9. But Jesus accepts her way of loving that is her own way. Jesus told about this in Mathew 26:10, “She has performed a good service for me.” Jesus said in Mark 14:8, “what she has done is what she could.” She has done what Jesus says in Matthew 22:37-38: “He said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment.” “

The Lord makes the way wide open to approach him and reach him. It is true in the case of Holy Images also. The Lord reluctantly makes the way wide open to easily approach him and reach him through Holy Images also. Why should we block his endeavour? Are we stronger than him?

Conclusion:

It is a teaching from Jesus that when a man loves Jesus even in his own way in his ability, with the real love, the Lord receives it whole-heartedly and gives him blessing. When a man loves the Lord through His Holy Image, the love goes to the Lord and he receives the good fruit of it from Lord. If we touch it and kiss it, the holiness of the Holy Image of the Lord will be flowing for us from the Holy Image. If we pray through this Holy Image, the prayer goes to the Lord whom it represents and thereby we can receive the blessings from the Lord God Almighty. Like that we can receive through the Holy Images of Mother Mary, saints and Angels.

Your predecessors confused you and so you get confused. Now it is the time to you to get clarified. Since this is for you.

Now onwards let us distinguish the Holy Images from the idols that are to be condemned. Accept Holy Images that are instruments of God to shower upon us his grace and blessings and an easy way to approach Him. Amen!