27.06.2024 – St. Patrick Catholic Church, Largo, FL

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Not enough to say “Lord, Lord”

2Kings 24:8-17, Psalm 79, Matthew 7:21-29

For weeks we have been reading from the Sermon on the Mount and today read the final section of that great Sermon. The early Church’s most difficult challenges did not come from the emperors’ persecutions or the opposition of the Jewish leadership, but from internal divisions. Not everyone who professed to be a Christian preached the genuine Gospel. Jesus concludes the sermon on the mount addressing the issue of false prophets in the community.

The disciples would face challenges from both outside and inside the community. Distinguishing the true Gospel from deceptive teachings and messengers involves going back to the start of the Sermon on the Mount: The Beatitudes. The Beatitudes announce the new path to being blessed: the path of being truthful, honest, maintaining integrity, showing forgiveness, refraining from violence, and resisting the temptation to prioritize material wealth. However, all of these principles are centred around the commandment of love. Any teaching or action that contradicts the love for God and love for others is un-Christian.

The Gospel calls on us to refrain from wasting time in pointing fingers and judging others. Instead, the Gospel encourages us to examine ourselves today. If our actions, behaviour, and lifestyle do not align with the values of the Gospel, we provide a misleading example and become false prophets.

Finally, there are three activities true disciples engage in, speaking, listening and doing; and all three are important. When we gather for public prayer we speak; we call on Jesus as “Lord, Lord.” Both at public worship and at times of private-personal prayer we listen; we hear the word of the Lord and let it sink into our hearts. Speaking and listening will always be central to the life of a disciple. However, Jesus adds that unless our speaking and our listening overflow into good actions their value is undermined.

It is not enough to say “Lord, Lord,” — for we must also do the will of the Father in heaven. It is not enough to listen to the words of Jesus, we need to act on them. We must act in harmony with what we say and what we hear. When our speaking to God and our listening to his word bear fruit in good works, imitating the life of Jesus, then our lives are solidly grounded, like a house built on rock. Today’s gospel promises that if our words to God and God’s words to us shape our attitudes and behaviour, we can more easily withstand any storms that come our way in life.

For the many times we haven’t borne good fruits through our doing of the word, we entreat our God like today’s Psalmist:

Help us, O God our saviour,

because of the glory of your name;

Deliver us and pardon our sins

rescue us for the sake of your name.

Amen.