Jesus said to his disciples: ‘If your virtue goes no deeper than that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven.
There is the old joke, ” How do you get to Carnage Hall? …. Practice, practice, practice.” Two Sunday’s ago my Pastor, Father Stuart, gave an example that hit home for me and reminded me of this joke. Father was preparing us for Lent. He spoke of his personal learning process that he experienced in playing the piano as a very young student. He said that if he didn’t practice, he didn’t improve. His next lesson would soon show to his music teacher that he didn’t practice his scales and other exercises that he was supposed to practice.
The same is true of our attitude toward Lent. We can go through the motions but that does not allow us to grow as Children of God. Our lack of participation shows in the end result. We can’t hide or fool God. We might fool our Parish Priest but comes down to what Jesus said, you will know them by their deeds.
Matthew 7: 15-20 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but underneath are ravenous wolves. By their fruits you will know them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Just so, every good tree bears good fruit, and a rotten tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a rotten tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. So by their fruits you will know them.“
It is not too late!
It is time for me to humble myself and reassess my Lenten plan. Am I doing something for show or is my intentions. true repentance? Each one of us has to figure this out for themselves.
In the end our Teacher, Jesus Christ, will know if we have practiced and yes, He will also know if our virtue surpasses the scribes. When we received ashes on Ash Wednesday we accepted our mortality. That mortality could happen today. In the end we are not practicing for Carnage Hall but for Heaven.
God Love You Always
Bob Burford
PS:Please Pray especially hard for our Pontiff, Pope Francis who may be doing better now. Please Pray for Cancer victims and their caregivers. Pray for the conversion of Russia and the salvation of the Ukrainian and Russian people and their soldiers. Pray for the Holy Land. Pray for peace! It looks like the impossible could happen. Never deny God.
