Gospel
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.’
“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.
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.”
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.
This discourse is important.
I can believe in Jesus but it’s not enough.
I can do mighty things in the name of Jesus Christ, and that will not be enough.
I can drive out demons and prophesy but that is not enough.
We must do the will of the Father.
The Father’s will is the same as the will of Jesus. His words are the Fathers words and his way the Father’s way.
What in the will of the Father?
To love him with all our might and mind and strength. And love others around us truly.
There is no other way of living but that these two commandments to guide us.
We can be regular church attendees. We can be ministers and pastors and religious. But unless we do the will of the Father it is for nothing.
Today we are called to ask, do I put God’s will ahead of my own wants and needs? Ahead of my own will?
What is really first in our life?
Do we wake up with prayer on our lips and go to sleep with a focus on his peace?
Do we interact with others always seeking to hold on to the peace of Christ and treat others as we want to be treated?
Do we avoid causing stress and suffering but strive to multiply the joy and peace and love we have been given.
That is the day of one who does the will of God.
Deacon Tony Pynes 
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