“Having the courage to walk the teachings of Christ in our day to day life!”

(Based on Is 26:1-6 and Mt 7:21, 24-27 – Thursday of the 1st Week in Advent)

A Christian who was converted from Judaism was sharing his testimony.

As he shared his views on various preachers whom he had met during the course of conversion, he made a comment:
“The sermons of some preachers used to be magnificent…
… but their life would be so inconsistent and incompatible to what they spoke from the pulpit!

This would make me think about these preachers in my mind in the following way:
‘When they were at the pulpit, I wished they would never leave it!

But when they were out of the pulpit, I wished they would never enter it again!”

That’s why, when I decided to become a Christian, I took a resolution:
‘My Halakah (Jewish term to describe one’s way of “walking”) should always follow my Haggadah (Jewish term to describe ‘the teaching”)!

What about us?

“Does our Halakah follow our Haggadah?”

Life judges us, on the basis of how well does our preaching and practicing co-ordinate & complement each other.

Life challenges us to bridge the gap between the two essentials of life – one’s talking and one’s walking the talk!

The Gospel of the Day is an invitation to reflect on the words of Jesus:
“Not everyone who calls me Lord, Lord, shall enter the Kingdom of heaven, but he who does the Will of My Father, Who is in heaven” (Mt 7:21)

Our Christian Life is often an experience…
… where we find many professing the faith, but failing to practise!

How often does this situation arise in our own lives and situations too…
We pledge ourselves at trendy events, for the cause of the poor…but we fail to help…

Many other people remain quite unnoticed…but become forerunners for the cause of the poor!

We make a big show and be popular as a helpful person…but we fail in some genuine needs..

Many other people remain quite unnoticed…but are present with their full force to render help!

We make many resolutions on new year days or birthdays…but fail to materialize them…

Many other people remain quite unnoticed…but are able to make many amendments and changes!

We make many promises to the Lord during feast days or novena times…but fail to live up…

Many other people remain quite unnoticed… but render much love to the Lord through the year!

We all experience this “I will do”…
… but “I did not do” experiences in life.

Am I also part of this category of “Nominal” Christians?

On the personal Faith Level, this trend is seen more distinctly and vividly…

People claim themselves to be Catholics…
… but appear in church only on grand feast days!

People appreciate the Catholic teaching…
… but support moral laws which go directly against!

People assert having dedicated their lives to God…
… but fail to find time for God and prayer!

People declare loving God above all…
… but fail to reject pleasures which hurts and pains Him!

People profess and make vows to God…
… but neglect to even try to keep up those promises!

But the Lord clearly declares, on Who will enter the Kingdom of Heaven: “he does the Will of my Father“

Therefore, the proposition is clear:

It is not pompous words that will grant life, but carrying out the Will of the Father!
It is not fancy talk that will confer true happiness, but practising the Will of the Father!
It is not flowery language that will accord blessings, but fulfilling the Will of the Father!

How are we to observe the Will of the Father?

St. Paul explains how we should set about trying to do the Father’s will:
“Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 2:5)

Like Christ…
… when we dare to be merciful and compassionate, we can do the Father’s Will
… when we prioritize other’s interests over selfish ones, we can do the Father’s Will
… when we empty ourselves and became obedient, we can do the Father’s Will

It is not only good news “proclaimed” but good news “practiced”…
… that will win others to the glorious freedom of forgiveness of sins!

Let us examine sincerely in this Season of Advent…
… and wherever needed, amend our lives

Let us have the courage to take and practise the resolution:
‘My Halakah (one’s way of “walking”) should always follow my Haggadah (“the teaching”)

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
THE SACRAMENT OF FORGIVENESS

The formula of absolution used in the Latin Church expresses the essential elements of this sacrament: the Father of mercies is the source of all forgiveness.
He effects the reconciliation of sinners through the Passover of his Son and the gift of his Spirit, through the prayer and ministry of the Church:
God, the Father of mercies,
through the death and the resurrection of His Son, has reconciled the world to himself
and sent the Holy Spirit among us
for the forgiveness of sins;
through the ministry of the Church
may God give you pardon and peace,

and I absolve you from your sins in the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. (CCC #1449)