“Why Do You Call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and Not Do What I Tell You?”

There is a seriousness in the words of Jesus today that should make every Christian examine the foundations of his or her life. Christ asks, “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?” It is possible to speak about God, to know the prayers of the Church, to listen faithfully to Scripture and even to call Jesus our Lord, while still keeping parts of our lives beyond the reach of His Word.

Jesus desires something deeper. He wants the faith we profess with our lips to become the life we actually live.

A Tree Is Known by Its Fruit

Jesus begins with a simple image: “Each tree is known by its own fruit.” A healthy tree eventually reveals itself by what grows upon its branches. In the same way, what has taken root within the human heart eventually becomes visible.

Our words often reveal more than we realize. Jesus says, “Out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” When the heart is being formed by Christ, patience begins to appear where anger once ruled. Mercy begins to replace resentment. Truth becomes more important than appearances. We become more willing to forgive, more attentive to another person’s suffering and less concerned with proving ourselves right.

This does not happen because Christians suddenly become perfect. It happens because grace is slowly transforming the heart.

That is why our spiritual life cannot remain only on the surface. We must allow Christ to reach those hidden places within us where jealousy, pride, bitterness, fear or selfishness may still be growing. The Lord does not enter these places to condemn us. He enters them because He wants to heal us.

When Faith Becomes More Than Words

Then comes the question at the centre of today’s Gospel: “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?”

These words challenge a comfortable Christianity.

It is relatively easy to call Jesus Lord when His teaching agrees with what we already want. The deeper test comes when the Gospel asks us to forgive someone who has wounded us, to tell the truth when dishonesty would benefit us, to remain faithful when compromise would be easier, or to recognize the dignity of someone we would rather ignore.

At such moments, faith moves from words into life.

Christ is not asking us merely to admire His teaching. He asks us to follow Him.

There will always be a distance between the holiness to which Christ calls us and the weakness we still experience. This is why the Christian life depends upon grace. When we fail, we do not abandon the journey. We return to the Lord. We seek His mercy, especially in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and begin again.

The important thing is that we never become comfortable with a faith that says “Lord, Lord” while continually refusing to let the Lord lead us.

Dig Deep

Jesus then gives us the image of a man building a house. The wise builder “dug deep, and laid the foundation upon rock.”

Those two words deserve our attention: dug deep.

A strong Christian life is rarely built through what is easy or superficial. Roots of faith grow through years of prayer, listening to Scripture, receiving the Eucharist, repentance, sacrifice, perseverance and ordinary acts of faithfulness that may never be noticed by anyone except God.

Much of this work happens quietly.

The world sees the house. God sees the foundation.

There may be people whose faith appears strong when everything is going well, but Jesus reminds us that the strength of a foundation becomes visible when the flood comes.

And sooner or later, every human life encounters a storm.

When the Flood Comes

Jesus never promises that building our lives upon Him will prevent suffering. The house built upon rock is still struck by the flood.

Faith does not mean that illness will never enter our family, that relationships will never become difficult, that grief will never visit our home or that our prayers will always be answered in the way we expect.

The difference is the foundation.

When everything else begins to move, what are we standing upon?

If our deepest security rests only upon money, success, health, approval or control, then suffering can leave us feeling as though everything has disappeared. These things have their place, but none of them is strong enough to carry the entire weight of a human life.

Only Christ can do that.

The house remained standing, Jesus says, “because it had been well built.” Not because the flood was small. Not because the builder escaped the storm. It remained because beneath everything visible was something stronger than the waters beating against it.

This is the quiet strength of a life rooted in Christ.

Christ Must Be the Foundation

Today’s Gospel therefore asks us a very personal question: upon what am I actually building my life?

It is possible to decorate the house beautifully while neglecting the foundation. We can appear successful before others while something within us remains spiritually fragile. Jesus invites us beneath appearances. He calls us to build where only God can see.

Every time we hear His Word and put it into practice, another stone is placed upon that foundation. Every sincere confession, every worthy reception of the Eucharist, every act of forgiveness, every hidden sacrifice and every decision to remain faithful when another path would be easier strengthens a life being built upon Christ.

And when we fail, we return to the Builder.

Perhaps this is the grace we should ask for today: that there may be less distance between the Gospel we hear and the life we live.

Christ does not need disciples who merely speak His name. He desires disciples who trust Him enough to build upon His Word.

When the storms eventually come, may they discover beneath our lives something they cannot wash away: Jesus Christ, our rock, our hope and our sure foundation.

Let us Pray

Lord Jesus Christ, You are the eternal Word of the Father and the sure foundation of every faithful life. Grant that we may not merely hear Your words or call upon Your name, but faithfully put Your teaching into practice.

Purify our hearts, that the fruit of our lives may be pleasing to You. Remove from us whatever is false, selfish or contrary to Your Gospel, and strengthen within us all that leads to holiness.

Teach us to dig deep in faith and to build our lives upon You. When the storms of life arise, preserve us from fear and keep us steadfast in hope. When we fall, raise us by Your mercy; when we become weak, strengthen us by Your grace; and when we lose our way, lead us again to the truth of Your Word.

May our thoughts, words and actions bear witness that You are truly the Lord of our lives, so that, remaining faithful to You in this world, we may one day share in the joy of Your eternal Kingdom.

You who live and reign with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.

Amen.