Dec. 3, 2015 Thursday: St. Francis Xavier
Dec. 3, 2015 Thursday: St. Francis Xavier
The True Disciple
I do not know if you are familiar with this Latin metaphysical axiom “agere sequitor esse” (or ‘Action follows being’). This means that one must act according to one’s nature. The human person must act in the human way intelligently and responsibly. In a similar way, the Jewish terms, halakah (one’s way of “walking”) must follow haggadah (the teaching).
Jesus in today’s gospel passage speaks about two builders. One builds his house upon the solid rock while the other builds his house on sand. Jesus praises the one who builds his house on rock. And what is this rock? The rock is of course Himself and His teachings, His words, His life and His examples. But listening to His word or by merely reading it is not enough, what is required also which is equally important with reading, is acting. In the beginning of this gospel passage Jesus says: “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,” (v. 21). In this statement of Jesus, He is most probably saying to us that entrance into the kingdom is only for those who do the will of the Father. On the Day of Judgment the morally corrupt prophets and miracle workers will be rejected by Jesus.
How do we apply this teaching of Jesus? I’m sure the one that I will share with you will help us to put into practice the Words of Jesus coming from an unknown author. He advised us not to open our mouth when:
In the heat of anger – Proverbs 14:17
When you don’t have all the facts – Proverbs 18:13
When you haven’t verified the story – Deuteronomy 17:6
If your words will offend a weaker person – 1 Corinthians 8:11
When it is time to listen – Proverbs 13:1
When you are tempted to make light of holy things – Ecclesiastes 5:2
When you are tempted to joke about sin – Proverbs 14:9
If you would be ashamed of your words later – Proverbs 8:8
If your words would convey the wrong impression – Proverbs 17:27
If the issue is none of your business – Proverbs 14:10
When you are tempted to tell an outright lie – Proverbs 4:24
If your words will damage someone else’s reputation – Proverbs 16:27
If your words will damage a friendship – Proverbs 16:28
When you are feeling critical – James 3:9
If you can’t say it without screaming it – Proverbs 25:28
If your words will be a poor reflection of the Lord or your friends and family – Peter 2:21-23
If you may have to eat your words later – Proverbs 18:21
If you have already said it more than one time – Proverbs 19:13
When you are tempted to flatter a wicked person – Proverbs 24:24
When you are supposed to be working instead – Proverbs 14:23
May the above advises guide us safely through the hectic Christmas preparations.
-Fr. Joseph Benitez
https://justmehomely.wordpress.com/2011/03/07/thursday-of-the-1st-week-of-advent/
The True Disciple
I do not know if you are familiar with this Latin metaphysical axiom “agere sequitor esse” (or ‘Action follows being’). This means that one must act according to one’s nature. The human person must act in the human way intelligently and responsibly. In a similar way, the Jewish terms, halakah (one’s way of “walking”) must follow haggadah (the teaching).
Jesus in today’s gospel passage speaks about two builders. One builds his house upon the solid rock while the other builds his house on sand. Jesus praises the one who builds his house on rock. And what is this rock? The rock is of course Himself and His teachings, His words, His life and His examples. But listening to His word or by merely reading it is not enough, what is required also which is equally important with reading, is acting. In the beginning of this gospel passage Jesus says: “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,” (v. 21). In this statement of Jesus, He is most probably saying to us that entrance into the kingdom is only for those who do the will of the Father. On the Day of Judgment the morally corrupt prophets and miracle workers will be rejected by Jesus.
How do we apply this teaching of Jesus? I’m sure the one that I will share with you will help us to put into practice the Words of Jesus coming from an unknown author. He advised us not to open our mouth when:
In the heat of anger – Proverbs 14:17
When you don’t have all the facts – Proverbs 18:13
When you haven’t verified the story – Deuteronomy 17:6
If your words will offend a weaker person – 1 Corinthians 8:11
When it is time to listen – Proverbs 13:1
When you are tempted to make light of holy things – Ecclesiastes 5:2
When you are tempted to joke about sin – Proverbs 14:9
If you would be ashamed of your words later – Proverbs 8:8
If your words would convey the wrong impression – Proverbs 17:27
If the issue is none of your business – Proverbs 14:10
When you are tempted to tell an outright lie – Proverbs 4:24
If your words will damage someone else’s reputation – Proverbs 16:27
If your words will damage a friendship – Proverbs 16:28
When you are feeling critical – James 3:9
If you can’t say it without screaming it – Proverbs 25:28
If your words will be a poor reflection of the Lord or your friends and family – Peter 2:21-23
If you may have to eat your words later – Proverbs 18:21
If you have already said it more than one time – Proverbs 19:13
When you are tempted to flatter a wicked person – Proverbs 24:24
When you are supposed to be working instead – Proverbs 14:23
May the above advises guide us safely through the hectic Christmas preparations.
-Fr. Joseph Benitez
https://justmehomely.wordpress.com/2011/03/07/thursday-of-the-1st-week-of-advent/
