Can't have it both ways

Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ extends to each of us the gifts of faith and of eternal happiness.

Today’s readings remind us, however, that we cannot possess these gifts while disregarding his will or while wallowing in the evil of this world.

Many call themselves Christians and Catholics but disregard the will and truth of Christ in their words and actions.

Our Lord speaks bluntly in today’s Gospel (Luke 6:43-49) with words that have special power in these days of hurricanes:

“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’
but not do what I command?
I will show you what someone is like
who comes to me,
listens to my words,
and acts on them.
That one is like a man building a house,
who dug deeply and laid the foundation on rock;
when the flood came, the river burst against that house
but could not shake it because it had been well built.

But the one who listens and does not act
is like a person who built a house on the ground
without a foundation.
When the river burst against it,
it collapsed at once
and was completely destroyed.”

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, be merciful to me – a sinner.

In today’s first reading (1 Corinthians 10:14-22) Saint Paul warns us against trying to be in communion with Christ and his Church while keeping ourselves tied to the evil ways of this world.

You cannot drink the cup of the Lord
and also the cup of demons.
You cannot partake of the table of the Lord
and of the table of demons.
Or are we provoking the Lord to jealous anger?
Are we stronger than him?

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, be merciful to me – a sinner.

May God give us the grace to forsake the evil to which we have attached ourselves and to embrace fully the love, truth, and life of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.