Today’s Reading is a blazing guidepost on every pilgrim’s path. It is absolutely amazing how many people read this and ignore its clear instruction. Even as they go on ignoring it, they foolishly insist, “I’m smart. Really, I am smart.”
We see in Mt. 7: 21-29 that 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.’ He is clear. The only people who will get into Heaven are those who do His will.
He is very clear. He is talking to Protestants and schismatics of every sort in every age. He is clearly telling everyone that the disobedient cannot get into Heaven. How do we obey? John 6: 53 “If you do not eat My Body and drink My Blood you do not have life in you.” So, He “never knew” them.
That is further emphasized when we realize that the only place we may receive His Body and Blood is in The Only Church He Founded, saying to the only leader He appointed in Mt. 16: 18-20, “Thou art Peter and on this rock I build My Church.”
We connect the dots and see clearly that they guide us to The Catholic Church. Those who heed His instructions to become Catholic are the ones “who do the will of My Father in Heaven.” Clearly, those who ignore them cannot get into Heaven. What does He say of those who become Catholic?
“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.”
The clear reference to “rock” and “Peter” is clear to all who seek to be obedient. Those who wish to diminish that clear meaning are not the friends of the obedient.
What does He say of and to those too stubborn to listen? How does He describe someone who prefers some silly schism to The Only Church He Founded?
“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.”
Then, as now, those who listen are stunned. “When Jesus finished these words, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.”
If you aren’t Catholic, become Catholic. If you are Catholic, be a better one. It is clear. Jesus says: “Be Catholic”. If you have a friend who’s a lapsed Catholic, or one who’d make a good Catholic, forward this to them.
Hopefully, they will heed the words of Jesus. If they don’t, it won’t be because you didn’t care enough to try.
