actions speak louder than words
" 'Do the kings of the world take tax or toll from their sons, or from foreigners?' When he replied, 'From foreigners,' Jesus observed: 'Then their sons are exempt.' " —Matthew 17:25-26
Peter had acknowledged Jesus as "the Messiah...the Son of the living God" (Mt 16:16). However, he failed to apply this proclamation to matters of everyday life, such as Jesus' exemption from paying the temple tax, because of His divine origins.
We also have proclaimed Jesus as Savior, Lord, and God, but our everyday lives are sometimes divorced from these basic realities. For example, how can we worry about anything since Jesus is the Lord God Who even died for us on the cross? "Is it possible that He Who did not spare His own Son but handed Him over for the sake of us all will not grant us all things besides?" (Rm 8:32) How can we not expect Jesus to heal us after what He's already done out of love for us? How can we not worship Jesus with all our hearts every moment of our lives, when we consider Who He is? How can we begrudge Jesus our Lord and God our little tithe and alms?
Our walk is often different than our talk. Could someone deduce from our actions that Jesus is Savior, Lord, and God? Do our actions speak louder than our words about Jesus? Give Him life-service, not lip-service (Mt 15:8).
Prayer: Jesus, may I always treat You like God.
Promise: "Like the bow which appears in the clouds on a rainy day was the splendor that surrounded Him. Such was the vision of the likeness of the glory of the Lord." —Ez 1:28
Praise: St. Teresa was so taken by the life of a saint that the former atheist converted to Catholicism and served God as a religious sister.
Reference: (For a related teaching, order our leaflet Job Performance for Jesus or on audio AV 43-3 or video V-43.)
Rescript: †Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, February 8, 2010
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