Reading 1: IS 26:1-6
Responsorial Psalm: PS 118:1 AND 8-9, 19-21, 25-27A
Gospel: MT 7:21, 24-27 Full Readings
Brethren, St Ignatius of Loyola recommends over and over again to consider all our current decisions and actions from the point of view of the last judgement. Imagine, you and I have been the ones going to church, joining choirs, preaching to people and always referring to the name of Lord Jesus, and then reaching in front of Jesus on the last day and he says, "I don't know; “ it's very disheartening and a frightening scenario. Why would Jesus say that since we have been calling on his name? The Gospel today gives us the answer: it is because of not doing the will of God.
Brethren, Christianity is not a profession but a practice, it involves two aspects: listening to what it teaches from Jesus Christ and then acting on what we have heard. However, sometimes, we have a tendency of practicing one at the expense of the other, mostly we just listen to the Word of God without putting it in practice. I am afraid that if we remain like this, Jesus will tell us on the last day what he says in the Gospel today that not everyone who says Lord, Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven but the one who does the will of God.
Today's Gospel is a conclusion of the sermon on the Mount and provides the condition to enter heaven and enjoy eternity, this condition is doing the will of God. Doing the will of the Father is a characteristic emphasis of Matthew. He includes this in the Lord’s Prayer, ‘thy will be done’ (absent from Luke’s version). It is not those who say ‘Lord, Lord’ who will be saved, but those who actually do the will of the Father. And finally Jesus himself uses the petition of his own Lord’s Prayer in the depths of his fear and apprehension in the Garden of Gethsemane, ‘If this cup cannot pass by, but I must drink it, your will be done’ (Matthew 26.42).
Brethren, we need to listen and act. We are to listen to all that Christ says to us—in the Scriptures, in our prayer, in the liturgy. And after listening, we are to act. These are the two pillars of the Christian life—contemplation and charitable actions. Christ invites us to be like a wise man who values prayer and action, who both hearkens and helps. Jesus uses the image of building in the rock and on sand.
The wise man builds on the rock and when the storm comes, the house is strong and it cannot be washed away. The house we are building is our lives and the rock is Christ. Building our lives our house means depending entirely on Christ at all times, listening to him acting on what he tells us and instructs. This attitude will bring to heaven and enjoy eternity with the Trinity. This is true Christianity.
The foolish man builds on sand and when the floods and storms come, they wash the house away. Such a person is the one who solely depends on himself and the world's pleasures and when the storms of the world come, they find he is not strong both spiritually and physically, they sweep his life away; this leads to death both physically and spiritually.
Brethren, where do you belong? Upon which foundation do you want or are you building your house on? Remember as St Ignatius of Loyola tells us, let us consider our present decisions and actions from the point of view of the last judgement. The choice is ours; we shall be judged according to our actions. Reflect today if you are a true Christian or schizophrenic one.
Let us Pray
Lord Jesus, you are the only true foundation upon which I can build my life and I remain strong both physically and spiritually, help me always to overcome all worldly lures that try to deceive me to put aside. May I strive everyday to become a true Christian. Amen
Be blessed
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