MY daily reflection and prayer:
Thursday, June 23, 2016
Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time
Dear my friends,
Here is the Gospel for us today according to St. Matthew 7:21-29
Jesus said to his disciples, “Not every one who says to me, `Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, `Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, `I never knew you; depart from me, you evildoers.’ “Every one then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house upon the rock; and the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And every one who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house upon the sand; and the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell; and great was the fall of it.” And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.”
This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ.
***
IN the Gospel reading today Jesus Christ warns us that being his follower and disciple challenges us to living as we have to be. So he says, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven” (Matthew 7:21).
What does it mean? Doing the will of the Father means doing works of charity and merciful service which flow from our Eucharist and our prayer before the Most Blessed Sacrament. St. James reminds us that faith without works is useless (James 2:20). The works of faith expressed both in celebrating the Sacraments and in doing charity.
Faith in Jesus Christ is not about complacent. It demands that we give of ourselves to others. Does our faith in Christ leave us complacent? Does it drive us to works of charity?
In the Perpetual Adoration of the Eucharist while adoring Jesus Christ we want to build our faith upon the rock. We build it both in the liturgical celebration and in the works of charity.
Let’s pray: Lord Jesus Christ, give us the strength to change in our life. Help us to give ourselves to others. Drive us to do the works of charity so that we do your will now and forever. Amen.
Kredit foto: Ilustrasi (Ist)
