Mt 7:21,24-27 My Greatest Feat

Mt 7:21,24-27  My Greatest Feat

(Click here for readings)

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.”

His questions were not simple to answer.  Life is not simple.  It can get complicated at times.  What to do…

He is new to the neighborhood, a suburban neighborhood.  The people there are accustomed to seeing a certain type of family, a certain type of people, if you know what I mean.  Every time he goes outside, his next door neighbor goes inside.  Every time he waves at them, they never wave back.  What to do…

She is a new girl at this one small Catholic school, middle school.  The family just moved to Dallas from the northeast after the father was laid off.  The kids at this school have been friends with each other for years.  Many years.  She is struggling.   It’s hard to make friends so late in the year.  What to do…

Redirect.  Refocus. 

Advent is that time of year to redirect and refocus our lives on Christ’s first coming; a coming marked in deep and rich humility.  We know His second coming will be marked in glory.  We know that.  But let’s not forget that the Son of God first came to earth in a nose dive.   And let’s not forget that before His second and final coming, the Lord will come again, through me, through humility. 

So, to start off with:  Stop labeling yourself a victim!  Stop embracing the idea of a bad God and start fully embracing the idea of being a participant in God’s humble plan of salvation.  How did the King of Kings arrive on the scene?  Humbly.  And this is the exact same way many of us arrive at the various scenes in our life.  We are sent.  This man was sent to this neighborhood.  This little girl was sent to this tiny school.  They were sent. 

As Christians we have volunteered ourselves, by baptism and confirmation, to be called in.  And when the Lord calls, he sends us somewhere, just like 007.

No place for Him in the world.  Do you ever get the feeling you don’t belong anywhere in this world?  The Lord did!  How about you?  If so, then strike your claim.  Take a stand.  Will you allow others to define who you are or will you allow the Lord to mold you into His image and likeness.  The Lord came into the world while it was dark.   He did not come into the world at the best of times, in the best of places, through the best of races.  Now if He didn’t do that for himself, do you really think He would do it for you?  Heck no!  Why?  Because He sent you to make a difference.  Now go and make a difference.

You are not a victim.  You are a rescuer. 

We have a strong tendency to abdicate our lives to others and allow them to govern our emotions as they please.  If people are nice to me, then I will be nice to them.  If people ignore me, then I will ignore them.  This is not the sign of humility.  This is the sign of weakness.  Humility is not weak.  It is strong.  It puts the world in convulsions.  It turns people and things upside down.

Am I about to hand over all power, all majesty, all influence on your life to a bunch of school kids or neighbors?  Heck no!  That would be your greatest defeat.  Instead, begin your greatest feat.

What to do…?  Acknowledge the fact that you were sent, like Christ, into a dark world.  Then acknowledge the fact that your mission won’t be easy.  So, if you wish to succeed, do as Christ did.  Do the complete opposite of what you think you should do.  If you have neighbors (students) that ignore you, then send them a Christmas card.  Let them know that if there is anything they need, they can count on you.  Be creative, like the Lord.  Be a big bang of love!  I know it’s hard.  I know it takes time. But I also know it always works.

Treat others not only in a way you would want to be treated, but in a way they would never expect to be treated!

Victor Hugo’s famous novel, Les Miserables, is the perfect Christmas story for Christmas Day.  After having spent nineteen years in jail, Jean Valjean is released from prison but has no place to stay.  Sound familiar?  No one will take him in!  Does that sound even more familiar?  An old lady sees him lying on a rock in the freezing cold night.  She asks him, “Is there no one that will take you in?”  “No one!” replies the hardened ex-convict. “You have knocked at every door?”  “Yes.”  “Have you knocked at that one there?”  “No.” “Knock there.”

Advent is that time of year to allow the Lord to welcome you into His life.   The rest will be your part in a beautiful love story and big part of His salvation history.

Your greatest feat is yet to come!