Doing, Not Dreaming

Back in the late ’80s, there was a survey conducted by a major advertising agency entitled “Fears and Fantasies of the American Consumer.” Among the findings, they reported that seventy-five percent of Americans have daydreamed about saving someone else’s life, and fully one-third of the population has daydreamed about finding a cure for cancer. But when it came to the question, “What is the greatest pleasure in life,” the answer was “Watching television.” Television topped the list. “It seems we would love to be good so long as it doesn’t inconvenience us … It’s one thing to dream about being good, and quite another to do good.” -1

A right relationship with God grows and develops, not merely by what we say or teach or promise. It’s what we do that matters most. And in today’s Gospel Lesson, Jesus invites some of the religious authorities of His time to reflect on the question of doing God’s Will. “What is your opinion?” He asks them:

A…