Striving for consistency between words and deeds.

We all know that the greatest enemy of the Lord Jesus is often us as believers. Unbelievers rightly criticize us when they see our lives at odds with the words we speak. In this time of preparation for the Feast of the Nativity of the Lord Jesus, we want to improve our relationship with God, not to be blamed for being a mismatch between our words and our actions. The Evangelist Matthew also wants to help us do this when he recorded the terms of the Lord Jesus for us as well, “Not everyone who speaks to me: Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” (Mt. 7:21).

The Lord Jesus speaks of the twofold foundation on which men place their relationship to God. One stays comfortably on the surface, namely, at words, concepts, wise sayings, formal execution. Others go to the depths, to the rock; that is, they seek to understand the Lord Jesus’s terms and put them into practice. We know, however, from other professions and fields, how essential it is in training to heed the prohibitions, the groundwork, which often takes much time, drains a lot of finances, and yet pays off when the foundation is sufficiently deep or firmly laid. It would be downright risky if this did not apply all the more so about God. If the Lord Jesus seems harsh to us when He called a man a fool who only listens to and does not implement His word, it is probably only because He wanted to make wise builders out of the worldly hearers, and therefore out of us as well.

Frequently, however, we join the majority who make light of their position. He wants to reach the goal quickly and as cheaply as possible. Lamentations, tears, and the sight of a burning pyre are not pleasant, not only in the material realm but also in the spiritual realm. Too bad we do not take notice of the soul, if not of Christ and His teachings. And here is where the care we had for the beginnings of our faith will show itself. Let us remind ourselves that the preparation time for First Holy Communion, Confirmation, is not enough. How is not enough only the knowledge of the first grades of elementary school, how isn’t enough at least the folk wisdom that says it is easier to learn from the mistakes of another than from one’s own? Because even in the sphere of our soul, faith, convictions, the winds blow and precipitate themselves on our house of faith, in adulthood, children’s dresses, we must often build up our spiritual life in silence, unobtrusively, for years, indeed, often using renunciations of voluntary and permitted things.

Putting it off until later is a sign of disappointment that can destroy more, and we don’t even realize it at first. Even a thief does not become a thief all at once, but gradually. Nor is good character a thing of one day. For example, even you who are preparing for marriage. Isn’t good preparation, renunciation, self-control, self-control needed? Good practice for marriage will prevent divorce, abortion, infidelity. A career is a madness that has already crossed many people’s plans. I’ll be different in retirement… Heart attack, stroke, unforeseen cancer, house built on sand. The betrayal of faith, the nodding, the things overlooked without a word… Where a believer can speak up, stand up for… All of this also brings the fact that God cannot be offended. God’s mills grind slowly but surely: “Whoever denies me before men, I will also deny before my Father who is in heaven” (Mt 10:33).

What to do? The answer is in the words of the Lord Jesus, “Only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven will enter the kingdom of God” (Mt. 7:21). And let us recall the words of James the Apostle: “So also faith: if it has not works, it is dead in itself” (Jam. 2:17). Let us unite our minds with the teachings of the Lord Jesus. Often we may find that life is more complicated with Jesus, more arduous, but that makes our yoke joyful and worthwhile. Proverbs says: “The whip cracks only at the end.” And we don’t think of the end as painful but joyful. Let us avoid bad examples. Let us not allow unbelievers to judge us. Let us not always and everywhere say what we think. Let us guard our words. Let us frequently remember the counsel of the Lord Jesus, “But when thou goes to pray, enter into thy closet, shut the door behind thee, and pray to thy Father which is in secret. And your Father will reward you, for he sees even in secret” (Mt 6:6).