As Jesus is nearing the end of his Sermon on the Mount (5:1-7:28) he warns religious leaders to practice what they preach and exhorts all his disciples to practice what they profess. The key phrase in today’s Gospel calls us as his disciples not only to hear his teachings but to put them into practice. “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.” Confessing or professing that Jesus is Lord is vital as we hear both in St. Paul’s letter to the Romans and in the Creed that we profess each Sunday:
“…if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved.” (Romans 10:9-10).
“I believe in God…in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord…” (Creed)
Jesus teaches that these professions are important, but we must put into practice what we profess in our baptismal promises. When we profess that Jesus is our Lord, we profess that we are servants or slaves of Jesus and/or God as both Mary and Paul did:
“Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” (Luke 1:38)
“Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God.” (Romans 1:1).
Both Mary and Paul show that God’s will and way come before even their own will and understanding.
Jesus ends his Sermon on the Mount with these words of exhortation: “Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.” Jesus’ Sermon is both affirming and challenging. It affirms that we are “poor in spirit” and the “light of the world.” Jesus challenges us to “let your light shine,” by “turning the other cheek” and loving our enemies.” Jesus words and teachings are very challenging, but he practices what he preaches in his life of humility, service, and sacrifice. He shows us what it means to do the will of our heavenly Father.
Image: “Bethlehem Catholic Mass_1633” by hoyasmeg is licensed under CC BY 2.0.