Doing the Gospel
What does it mean to act on the Word?
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 deeds of power in your name?' Then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; go away from me, you evildoers.' "Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell-and great was its fall!" Now when Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes. - Matthew 7:22-29
In reading today's Gospel, I am reminded of when Jesus tells the disciples that anyone who is not against him is with him.
In Luke, chapter 9, one of the disciples comes to Jesus. “Master,” said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we tried to stop him, because he is not one of us.” “Do not stop him,” Jesus said, “for whoever is not against you is for you.”
Doesn't that seem like a contradiction? In today's Gospel from Matthew, Jesus says he will declare that he doesn't know them.
We have all heard the expression that actions speak louder than words, and this may be the point of this message. Jesus wants his followers to act, not just emulate him in his words.
While casting out demons using Jesus' name is good, living the word is better.
Jesus knows those who do the Gospel more than those who preach.
Not a good message for our preachers, is it?
If they practice what they preach, then it is. I believe we all have a ministry in Christ. What that is may be different for each of us, but that is what we are called to do and it is how we live the word.
It is important to remember that Jesus was tough on the leaders of the faith. He called them hypocrites for preaching one thing and doing another, so that may be the reason he speaks with such authority.
Here is something to ponder.
What if Jesus was not just trying to win over the sinners and the poor, but was hoping to turn some of the leaders around as well? After all, he said he came to save souls, and it sounds like theirs needed saving.
But they were the hardest to convince. And so they were the ones who heard the word and walked away.
More to come...