God's Word for the 9th Sunday in Ordinary Time A

9^th Sunday in Ordinary Time A

Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them
will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.
 

Deut 11:18.26-28. 32 Psalm 30:2-4. 17. 25. Rv.3. Romans 3:21-25. 28.

Let these words of mine remain in your hearts

Be a rock of refuge for me O Lord.

A man is justified by faith and not by doing something the Law commands 

Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them is a sensible man

Matthew 7:21-27

Jesus said to his disciples:
“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.
Many will say to me on that day,
‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name?
Did we not drive out demons in your name?
Did we not do mighty deeds in your name?’
Then I will declare to them solemnly,
‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers.’

“Everyone who listens to 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 buffeted the house.
But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock.
And everyone who listens to these words of mine
but does not act on them
will be like a fool who built his house on sand.
The rain fell, the floods came,
and the winds blew and buffeted the house.
And it collapsed and was completely ruined.”

Faith without good works is dead

St. Paul tells us in the second reading “a man is justified by faith and not by doing something the Law tells us to do” and yet Jesus says “Not everyone who calls me ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father”..  Furthermore we are impressed with miracles, exorcisms and famous preachers. Yet Jesus says: ‘many will say to me, “Lord, Lord did we not prophecy in your name, cast out demons in your name, work many miracles in your name” and I will say to them “I have never known you”.

So what does it mean? Are we saved by faith or by doing the will of God?  Good works do not save us – no amount of good works can gain us entry into the life of the Trinity. That is pure gift given to those who love Jesus. Yet we cannot be saved without good works! Jesus told us: you will know a tree by its fruit and you will know a person’s faith by his deeds.

Our good deeds do not win us the gift of faith but our faith does produce good deeds. Faith is to accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour. When Jesus is our Lord, then we listen to his Word and obey it. We make our home in his Word and his Word is our rule of life. Jesus, our Saviour, gives us the Holy Spirit who leads us and makes us the children of God. The fruit of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit within us is a life of good works. In the Spirit we proclaim that Jesus is Lord (1Cor 12:3) and through the Spirit we show the fruits of faith (Gal 5:22).

In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus has taught us what it means to be a disciple, what it means to love him and be his friend. Now he tells us if we build our life on him, the Word of God, then we are building our life on rock. Whatever happens, whatever tragedies, trials and tribulations may come our way we will be able to stand firm because Jesus gives us support.

What is most important in the Christian life is to receive the Holy Spirit. When we are filled with the Spirit, then we can put aside sin, addictions and evil habits. We are liberated and empowered. Do you pray earnestly for the Spirit? Does the Word of the Lord live richly in your heart? Does your life reveal the presence of the Spirit within you?

Father, Give us the Holy Spirit that we may produce the fruits which are pleasing to our Lord and Saviour to whom we have given our lives.