Word to the Wise
Saturday, September 12, 2015 - Saturday in the 23th Week in Ordinary Time
[1 Tim 1:15-17 and Luke 6:43-49,1066]"Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' but do not do what I command." [Luke]
The Sermon on the Plain [Luke's version of the Sermon on the Mount] comes to an end with a powerful question. Why, indeed, do we call Jesus, "Our Lord," and not do what he commands?
In the first sentences of today's passage, Jesus speaks of the heart as the motivator for all that we do: "from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks." As a preacher, I certainly have to take that teaching to heart! He then mentions who the idea disciple is: the one who comes to him, listens to his words and then acts on them. It is the "acting on them" that will make a difference.
In a world torn by war and violence, political corruption, greed and indifference to the sufferings of our brothers and sisters, the practical response of believing Christians could make a tremendous difference. It is not easy. Major candidates for political office in our own country are promising regimes that would contradict all that the gospel stands for! But if enough of us take Jesus' commands to heart and act on them, we can make a very big difference, no matter who is in power. If we are going to call Jesus, "Lord!" we have to be obedient disciples! AMEN
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