Thursday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time (June 28, 2018): Memorial of Saint Irenaeus, Bishop and Martyr

Doing the will of God can be the scariest, riskiest choice that we make. Or so it seems at the moment of decision, but Jesus assures us in today’s Gospel reading that it is the only way to find stability, the only way to gain sure footing, the only way to stand secure and firm in the storms that toss everything else around.

He also makes it clear that what we think is the solid rock of our salvation is not always as Godly as it seems. Evil-doing can be done under the assumption that we’re making right and good decisions. I find this much scarier than the unpleasant and illogical tasks that God asks of me.

Jesus gives us the formula for knowing the difference between the will of God and what we think is Godly when it’s not. It contains two parts: (1) listening to the teachings of Jesus, and (2) acting on them.

The Apostolic Church (i.e., the Catholic Church with its roots in the first Apostles) has been the protector of Christ’s teachings since the earliest days of Christianity (we call this the “Church Magisterium”). Even when clergy have failed to teach the truth, the Church as the Body of Christ on Earth has held onto the truth for over 2000 years, during which time our understanding of the truth has matured and deepened.

Therefore, we have no excuse for being misinformed or ignorant about the will of God. If our consciences are malformed, it’s by our own choice. We can avail ourselves of Catholic adult education classes in our parishes and on the internet. Church writings and the Catechism are readily available in bookstores and on the internet. We can buy the Catholic Bible with explanatory footnotes.

But listening to Jesus isn’t enough. If we truly accept the truth, we will act on it — even when it’s unpleasant or illogical. Why? Because Jesus doesn’t teach anything that’s wrong or evil!

Education gets stuck in the head when we don’t use what we learn. It reaches the heart by doing it, acting on it. Both sin and holiness come from the heart. If we’re committing a sin and we know it’s a sin but we’re not overcoming it, it’s because our hearts have learned a false teaching. Something about the sin makes more sense than the truth does.

The way out of this trap is to learn what the truth is and then act on it as if we already believe it. Understanding grows from doing.

We are fools if we listen to Jesus and then refuse to act on what he tells us. Now that we know this truth, what shall we do about it?

Thank You, Lord, because Your Word guides me and shows me the correct path. Help me to remember it at every moment and to act according to Your teachings. Amen.