THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH Her Doctrine and Morals Seventh Sunday after Pentecost 15 July 2012

The Sunday Sermon

Dear Friends,

Jesus frequently tells us that we can obtain anything we wish by prayer. “All things whatsoever you shall ask in prayer believing, you shall receive.” (Matt 21:22) And again: “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you.” (Matt 7:7) He even confirms these promises with a solemn oath: “Amen, Amen, I say to you, whatever you shall ask the Father in My name, He shall give it to you.” However, the end of today’s gospel seems to contradict the promises according to which we can obtain all things whatsoever we ask, for He says: “Not everyone that saith to Me: ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter into the kingdom of heaven.” So we see that not all who pray will enter into heaven. St. Chrysostom solves this dilemma when he tells us that no one gets into heaven without prayer, but prayer alone is not enough. 

We are all duty bound to pray. God is our Creator, Father, Savior, Sanctifier, etc. If we are duty bound to honor our earthly father, how much more must we honor God? Those who do not pray refuse this honor to God. We thank every earthly benefactor and think it to be a duty or obligation that is most necessary, so likewise we must constantly thank God in prayer. Akin to this is the necessity of petition. In thanking God we acknowledge Him as the source of everything, so it logically follows that we must ask for our needs in prayer. Should not God be offended when men who cannot draw a breath without Him, are too proud to ask Him for His benefits and graces? This obligation of praying presupposes the necessity of believing in Him, hoping in Him, and loving Him. Those who lack faith, hope and charity do not pray and are therefore doomed to eternal damnation. 

Since prayer alone is not enough, it must be accompanied by works. Every one of us is a sinner so we are all required to do penance. The more we have sinned, either in enormity of sin, or frequency of sin, the more necessary penance is for us; and the more austere and constant must our penances be. “Unless you shall do penance, you shall all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:3) Let us often consider that King David sinned once, but wept and did penance constantly for the rest of his life. There are likewise many penitents on our calendar to consider, to edify, and encourage us in penance (St. Peter, Mary Magdalen, Margaret of Cortona, etc.) 

We must also keep the commandments, “If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.” (Matt 19:17) Perhaps most importantly we must persevere to the end. Perseverance not only in prayer but also in works is necessary. This prayer and works become one and the same thing as whatever we do we do for the love of God and in this manner all that we do is offered to God as a prayer. Not only our thoughts and words, but also our actions rise to heaven as a sweet sacrifice in prayer. 

We should not forget to mention that it is necessary that we fulfill the duties and obligations of our state in life. The right and true fulfillment of our duties is a prayer when we do them for the love of God. Our religious responsibility should therefore take the first place in the hierarchy of our values and priorities. Only those who do the will of God will enter into Heaven. It is God’s will that we all pray, but that is not all that God wills. 

We ought to love Him, and if we love Him, we will pray to Him, and then set out to please Him in all that we do; striving always to keep His word – obeying the commandments and fulfilling all our obligations, both materially and spiritually. In this manner our prayers will be heard but more importantly heaven will be opened to us and we will not be damned with so many others who prayed “Lord, Lord,” but nonetheless were damned because their works did not match their words.