Being doers not just preachers (Mathew 7:21-27)
Last Sunday’s Gospel reading taken from Mathew 7:21-27 was a clear reminder by Jesus that we should not be hypocrites who preach his words but to do not live by them.
His words “Not every one that saith to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven: but he that doth the will of my Father who is in heaven, he shall enter into the kingdom of heaven “are crystal clear that which applies to each and everyone who claim to be his followers.
The celebrant took the opportunity to remind us of this important commandment of Jesus, to build our houses on rock and not on sand which could be easily swept away by the rain. He reminded us of its relevance in our lives in the family and the community around us but stopped short of applying it to many of our priests who do not live by what they preach. They do not show us the way to follow Christ in the manner in which He wants.
Many of us are like the foolish man who built his house upon the sand only to be washed away by flood waters. It is time for us to realize our foolishness and be like the wise man who built his house founded on rock.
Many of us never fail to go to church, observe all the rules of the faith, do penance during lent, read and memorize the bible and even obtain degrees in the study of the Holy Book but are we really following what Jesus told us? We say “Lord, Lord” many times but how sincere are we in our prayers? Do we love God the way He wants? Do we love our neighbor in the way He told us to do so? Do we see Jesus in every person we meet along the way?
If we do then we will be like the wise man who built his house upon the rock which will stand the test of time. If we hear God’s words but do not live by them then we will be like the foolish man who built his house on sand only to be washed away by the rain and God will say to us, “I never knew you”.
Having read these words of Jesus let us ponder on our lives. Who are we like, the wise or foolish man? If we are like the latter, it is still not be too late to change ourselves. Let us ask Jesus to guide us in the right path so that one day He will recognize us for doing what he commanded – being good doers than preaches.
Matthew 7:21-27
21 Not every one that saith to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven: but he that doth the will of my Father who is in heaven, he shall enter into the kingdom of heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day: Lord, Lord, have not we prophesied in thy name, and cast out devils in thy name, and done many miracles in thy name?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity.
24 Every one therefore that heareth these my words, and doth them, shall be likened to a wise man that built his house upon a rock,
25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and they beat upon that house, and it fell not, for it was founded on a rock.
26 And every one that heareth these my words, and doth them not, shall be like a foolish man that built his house upon the sand,
27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and they beat upon that house, and it fell, and great was the fall thereof.
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