Advent 45-50: I never knew you

Advent Day 45 of 50: I never knew you

Jesus begins to bring to a close His Sermon on the Mount with yet one more warning to keep us from self-righteous boastfulness. He says, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’”

In review, the Sermon on the Mount is about being squared away with God in a manner that calls us to personal responsibility. Over and over again throughout the Sermon we are invite us to a higher calling, and one which was uniquely identified as the Christian imperative. It is not merely a profession of faith, but acting on the faith you profess.

Here, once again, Jesus asks us to be open to personal introspection. Do you call Jesus your “Lord’? The question then is, what does it mean to have Jesus as Lord? In a very polite way Jesus is saying, talk is cheap, instead be the one who does the will of My Father in heaven.  Introspection begins with the question, what am I doing to be worthy of that Christian descriptor? Do not rush through this question or be overly anxious to justify yourself in an answer. Take your time. Remember, the Advent season is to prepare us for the awesome encounter with the Revelation of God through is Nativity and Baptism.

Let us pray, from the Sunrise Hour of the Armenian Church, Great and almighty God, receive this my prayer and service into Your heavenly spaces. Make Your Light of Righteousness and Wisdom to shine forth upon us and make us children of light and children of day, so that in godliness we may lead our life and live it without offence. For You are our Helper and Savior and to You is befitting glory and honor, now and forever. Amen.