My wife, Elise, loves Yoga. She really likes how it helps stretch her muscles and increase her flexibility. She frequently implores me to go with her. I refuse. Partially because, IT IS HARD!! After an hour of going through all these poses and positions, I feel like I went through an hour on the tumble setting in a commercial dryer. I am not embarrassed to say I don’t like it because it is not FUN!
But the other reason is a more theological one. The Church tells us to be very careful of yoga. And not because it fears of having a collection of limber laity. Yoga is based in Hindu spirituality. The word “yoga” means “to yoke”, as if to become bound to. Just as Christ asks us in Matthew to take His yoke upon us. The poses in yoga often refer back to Hindu gods and goddesses such as Shiva and Kali. It is referred to as a spiritual activity focused on bringing harmony between the mind and body. It, therefore, can ascend from a mere physical exercise to becoming a spiritual replacement for God.
St. Paul is writing in today’s readings to the Colossians. Why? He has actually never been to Colossae. They were evangelized by another disciple, Epaphras. But the church there had begun to go astray. Colossae was a town at the crossroads of major trade routes and it flourished for a time. Its unique position geographically resulted in exposure to a large variety of cultural spirituality from around the world. A belief in cosmic beings, paganism, ritually focused worship. These practices were being combined with the Gospel that the believers in Colossae had learned from Epaphras originating from Paul (and, obviously, from Christ). They were turning away from the truth of Christ and turning Him into just another cult figure. Paul was trying to remind them of the evil beings that they were before learning of salvation through Christ. They were in danger of losing eternity because of the false teachings of pagans and mystics.
The believers from Colossae had forgotten that Christ was God and, as such, was the Creator of all the universe. All the objects of worship that they were adopting, and at times joining in partnership with Christ was, in fact, created by Christ. They were trading the sacred for the profane. An example I heard today from Father Mike Schmitz was the story of Jacob and Esau. If you recall, Esau came back from the fields hungry and he saw the stew that Jacob had been preparing. Esau traded his birthright to Jacob in exchange for the stew. The sacred for the profane.
In today’s Gospel, we see Christ traveling through the fields with His disciples and they are eating the grain growing there. They are doing work…forbidden to be practiced on the Sabbath according to Jewish law. Christ explains to them that King David ate the sacred bread from the temple when he was fleeing from his enemies. Christ concludes by telling the religious authorities that He is the Lord of the Sabbath. No, not the Lord of the Dance (love that play). The Lord of the Sabbath. He is the Creator of the seen and the unseen. Putting into perspective the gods of the Hindus and the pagan rituals of the Colossians. As Jesus stated in Matthew 7:6, “do not cast pearls before swine”. Do not equate the good news of the Gospel with the manufactured golden calves of man.
So should you participate in yoga as a Catholic? If you can avoid the temptation of following the spiritual allure of the movement and sticking to its physical benefits, I don’t believe the Church would find fault. But, for me? I’ll stick with exercising my thumbs on the remote control. Yoga is just TOO HARD!!
