Mere lip service does not earn our place in Heaven

Father Vincent Hawkswell explains that religious identity and following laws do not guarantee entrance into the kingdom of God. Writing for The B.C. Catholic, Hawkswell notes that Jesus used the parable of the two sons to show that true obedience matters more than verbal agreement.

In the parable, one son tells his father he will not work but later changes his mind and goes, while the other son says he will go but does not. Hawkswell points out that the son who actually performed the task was the one who truly followed his father's will.

The priest warns that people often offer weak excuses to God, such as being too busy with worldly cares or intending to change later. He suggests that while people often recognize flimsy excuses in others, they frequently use similar justifications for their own lack of action. Hawkswell emphasizes that baptism alone does not secure a place in heaven and that individuals must be prepared to account for their stewardship.