Hearing and Doing

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Feria

Today's Readings:
[ 2 Kgs 24:8-17; Ps 79; Mt 7:21-29 ]

Today's Gospel ends with one of Jesus' most sobering teachings: "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". Faith is not merely a matter of words, beliefs, or outward appearances. It must take root in a life of obedience, love, and action.

This theme echoes through the reading from 2 Kings. King Jehoiachin's reign was brief, and Judah's long pattern of unfaithfulness led to exile and suffering. The people had heard God's covenant repeatedly, yet they failed to live according to it. The consequences were painful and far-reaching. Psalm 79 gives voice to that grief, crying out, "How long, O Lord?" and pleading for mercy amid the ruins.

From a Franciscan perspective, these readings remind us that discipleship is something lived rather than merely professed. St. Francis of Assisi was deeply moved by the words of Christ and sought to embody them as literally and faithfully as possible. He understood that the Gospel is not simply information to be learned but a way of life to be embraced. To hear Christ's words and then build our lives upon them is to construct our house upon rock rather than sand.

Yet these readings are not merely warnings. Even in exile, even amid the devastation lamented in the psalm, God remains faithful. The cry for mercy itself is an act of hope. We may discover places in our own lives where our actions do not fully reflect our prayers, where our profession of faith has outpaced our practice. The good news is that God continually calls us back, inviting us to begin again.

Today, let us ask not only whether we have heard Christ's words, but whether we are living them. For the strongest foundation is not found in what we say about Jesus, but in a life shaped by following him.

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