FAITH IS NOT ABOUT LIPS SERVICE

June 26, 2025 Thursday within the 12th Week in Ordinary Time: Year C Matthew 7:21–29 There are times when I read the Gospel and feel Jesus looking right into my soul. Today’s words—“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven…” they struck me like a quiet thunder. It’s not because I don’t love Him, but because He’s reminding me that love is more than words. It’s not just about calling Him “Lord”—it’s about letting Him be Lord over every part of my life.Faith is not lip service—it is lived obedience. “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’” reminds us that discipleship is not about sounding holy but about surrendering to God’s will. What pleases the Father is not the grandness of our declarations, but the quiet, faithful doing of His will in love and humility. Today’s Gospel is not a threat—it is a merciful invitation. Jesus isn’t trying to scare us. I truly believe He’s pleading with us, lovingly, like a Father who wants His children to live in truth and not illusion. We can get so busy doing good things—even religious things—yet our hearts can still drift far from Him. I’ve had moments where I realized I was building on sand: the need to be liked, the desire to appear strong, or the pride of being “right.” But Jesus is gently saying, “Come back to Me. Build your life on Me. I am the Rock that holds through every storm.” So if today you feel shaken or unsure—if life feels like a storm—you’re not alone. Maybe that’s exactly where Jesus wants to meet you, not to tear you down, but to rebuild something beautiful with you. Slowly, patiently, faithfully. My prayer for all of us today is this: “Lord, don’t just be on my lips. Be in my choices, in my heart, in how I love. Help me build my life on You—secure, honest, and true.” Blessings Fr. Jhack