Thursday - First week of Advent

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 (Matth.7-21)
What will makes someone a faithful follower of Jesus Christ?  That is a question we might ask ourselves at times. Jesus gives us the answer in : “I accept Jesus as my Lord and Savior” or “I am born again”. Nice statements but we have to look at the practical implication of these statements. If we are one with Christ in our deepest motivation and expression that is really “being in Christ”. That means doing his will, in fulfilling the Gospel, love our neighbor and love “the least of these, my brothers and sisters”. We have to do this with a cheerful heart despite the difficulties and trials that we may have in our personal lives. may have cramped our lives is a sign of an authentic follower of Christ. As Jesus himself says: “Not every one that calls me Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven, but those that do the will of my Father in Heaven”. And to do the Father’s will is to live like Jesus and be like him in all that we do.  

We should totally dependent on God and his plan for our lives. When we include God in our lives and make Him part of our daily life, than we experience the fullness of life. God’s will is good and brings us joy and contentment even in our trials. God wants us to have the opportunity to be one with him. He is waiting for our answer on this call. Sometimes that calling comes with some surprises but he gives us the strength to carry it. When we respond to God’s call and be one with him, he will work it all out for us. If not we will keep on following the false gods in our lives and that leads to unhappiness. Fulfill what he has ordained for us means picking up our cross and carrying it in His Name. Like that one quote my uncle had in his house: “take up your cross and follow me and don’t go and sit underneath it”.

That means there is some action from our part asked for. Keep on going on, no matter what. Don’t be afraid, we are not alone, the Lord is with us. We need to become spiritually alive and leave the false identity behind. We will be “born again” if we do Gods will no matter what and ask Him for the grace to submit to Him. With Jesus we pray: “yet not my will but yours will be done”. In God’s will for us He shows us His infinitely perfect plan and it  demands us surrendering to that plan. Let us pray that He gives us the grace commit to his perfect plan for our lives. Amen.