During his homily this morning at Casa Santa Marta, Pope Francis warned against those who do not practice what they preach, saying they damage not only themselves but others.
Commenting on Jesus’ parable of the man who built his house on rock, the Holy Father explained that Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for knowing the commandments, but not implementing them in their lives.
They are “good words,” he said, but if they are not put into practice “not only do they not serve us, but they hurt, they deceive us, they make us believe that we have a beautiful home, but without a foundation.”
The “Eternal Rock” mentioned in the first reading from Isaiah is Jesus Christ, he said. “It is a strong word, it gives life, you can go forward, you can withstand all attacks if this word has its roots in Jesus Christ.”
“A Christian word,” he continued, “that does not have its vital roots in the life of one person, in Jesus Christ, is a Christian word without Christ! And Christian words without Christ deceive, they hurt! An English writer once said, speaking on heresies, that heresy is a truth, a word, one truth that has become crazy. When Christian words are without Christ, they start to go towards the path of madness.”
The Holy Father also warned that Christian words without Christ lead to vanity and pride. The Lord calls us to build our lives upon Him, the true Rock, he said.
Concluding his homily, the Pope called on the faithful to make an examination of conscience in order to understand if our words and actions follow Jesus Christ.
“May the Lord give us this grace of humility to say words with Jesus Christ, founded on Jesus Christ,” he said. (J.A.E.)
