This quote sums up today’s gospel from Matthew. It reminds us that our faith and our efforts to be disciples of Jesus is not simply a matter of words, but also a matter of actions.
But how do we know if a stranger or a friend knows that we are following Jesus? It’s through our actions and choices that we make in our daily lives. Are we living the gospel? Each of us needs to ask these questions:
– Do I live the gospel in the crowded store with the long check-out lines when I am doing my Christmas shopping and running late?
– Do I live the gospel at the office when everyone is putting down another employee and calling them names because they are not like the “rest” of us?
– Do I live the gospel at home when my kids come home from college and they don’t clean-up after themselves – EVER!?
– Do I live the gospel when I refuse to make eye contact with the Salvation Army bell ringer that stands in front of the store I’m going into because I don’t want him to ask me for money?
– Do I live the gospel when I don’t reach out to help my neighbor in need because it is an inconvenience to me?
During Advent, we are challenged to pause our hectic lives and reflect on what the coming of Jesus and living the gospel really means. Let’s commit ourselves to doing the will of our heavenly Father and focusing on how we can live the gospel in the hope of making our world a better place for all of God’s children!
