Episode Transcript  

One

The Conclusion of the Sermon on the Mount

Jesus concludes the Sermon on the Mount with a sobering warning, 'It is not those who say to me, "Lord, Lord", who will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the person who does the will of my Father in heaven. When the day comes many will say to me, "Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, cast out demons in your name, work many miracles in your name?" Then I shall tell them to their faces: I have never known you; away from me, you evil men!' (cf. Matthew 7:21–27)

Jesus teaches that eternal life is not gained by merely believing He is God, calling Him Lord, or even by performing great external works, but by doing the will of His Father, that is, by living the virtue of faith.

Two

What is Faith

Faith is not simply believing that God exists or that Jesus is God or knowing facts about religion. The virtue of faith involves three essential elements. The Theological Virtue of Faith means you have to, first, trust God, and that means you have to have a real friendship with Him through prayer, because you’re not going to have a lot of trust for someone you don’t know.

You’ll also have to accept the truths of revelation because how can you believe God if you don’t believe what He says through Scripture, Tradition, and the teaching of the Catholic Church? Finally, you’ll have to act on that truth because if you’re not willing to act on something, it means you don’t really believe it. 

An example to make this clear: Imagine my wife calls and tells me we are out of money. I was not there when she checked the account, I did not see the balance myself. But I trust her word and accept what she says. Now, her knowledge becomes my knowledge. Acting on that truth, I change my behavior accordingly. But if I go out and spend $500, my wife will rightly say, “You didn’t believe me.” Because my actions contradicted what I professed I believed. 

Three 

The Importance of a Resolution

Jesus ends the Sermon restating that it does us no good to hear His words unless we live them. “Therefore, everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on rock. Rain came down, floods rose, gales blew and hurled themselves against that house, and it did not fall: it was founded on rock. But everyone who listens to these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a stupid man who built his house on sand. Rain came down, floods rose, gales blew and struck that house, and it fell; and what a fall it had!”

With this vivid image, Jesus teaches that every meditation on His word must lead to action; it must be followed by a concrete resolution. 

St. Francis de Sales teaches, “The most important thing of all is that you cling firmly to the resolutions you have taken in meditation so as to practice them carefully. That is the great fruit of meditation. Without this, meditation is often useless, or even harmful, for we imagine ourselves already to be what we are resolved to become — though in reality we remain unchanged unless we practice what we resolve.” (Introduction to the Devout Life, II, 8)

A resolution is a simple, concrete step drawn from our meditation, carried into the day, by which we turn hearing into doing and build our life on the rock.

Four

The Fruit of Prayer

We naturally desire results. The fruit of prayer is interior transformation. But change happens when prayer leads to action, and that requires resolution.

Examples of simple resolutions: Today, I will listen more than I speak. I will avoid gossip. I will practice gratitude instead of complaining. When I feel anxiety, I will respond with an act of trust in God.

If no clear resolution arises, simply carry the meditation with you throughout the day. The continual remembrance of God’s word changes how you think, speak, and act.

Five

The House of the Soul

Jesus promises that those who live His word will be like the wise man who built his house upon rock. When trials and temptations come, as they surely will, the house stands firm because it rests on Him.

St. Bernard of Clairvaux beautifully describes the house of the soul, “The spiritual house of the soul is built by virtue, as a material house is built by labor and stones. Its length is long-suffering; its width is love; its height is hope. The four walls are prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance. The pavement is humility; the roof is patience. The windows are the desire to become a saint, through which the light of the Gospel enters. The door is obedience to the commandments; the doorkeeper is holy fear; the watchmen are the angels. The wife is the intellect, husband is the will; the children are good works; the servants are the senses obedient to a mind formed by truth. The table is Sacred Scripture; the bread is the Eucharist; the wine is the Blood of Christ; the living water is the Holy Spirit; the oil is mercy; the bed is a quiet and peaceful mind; the sacraments are medicine; the priests are the doctors; the guests are the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.”

Suggested Resolutions:

Choose one resolution for today to help you grow closer to God, or create your own. Here are some ideas to inspire you. 

• Make an act of faith, say, “Jesus, I trust you because you are God and I accept the truth you reveal and I promise to act on that truth and do what you tell me.”

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