1st Reading: Is 26:1-6
On that day they will sing this song in the land of Judah: “A strong city have we; he sets up walls and ramparts to protect us. Open up the gates to let in a nation that is just, one that keeps faith. A nation of firm purpose you keep in peace; in peace, for its trust in you.” Trust in the Lord forever! For the Lord is an eternal Rock. He humbles those in high places, and the lofty city he brings down; He tumbles it to the ground, levels it with the dust. It is trampled underfoot by the needy, by the footsteps of the poor.
Gospel: Mt 7:21, 24-27
Jesus said to his disciples: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. “Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock. And everyone who listens to these words of mine but does not act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. And it collapsed and was completely ruined.”
UNWAVERING FAITH IN GOD: To be with God means that one is always ready to listen and do what God wants. It also means that one has a complete trust in God. He or she believes that the only one who can make him or her secure is God. He or she has unwavering faith, trust and confidence in God. A person who listens to the word of God during day time and then in the evening goes to the witch doctor will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Such a person has doubts in God’s saving power and God’s protection. This is because he or she only listen but does not do the will of God. He or she has a wavering faith in God. Unwavering faith in God is a total trust and confidence in God.
Prayer: Lord, may I always trust in you.
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ACTION AND CONTEMPLATION: Father Richard Rohr founded the center for Action and Contemplation in 1986 in New Mexico. He believes that Action and Contemplation, which seem exclusive to each other, needs to be brought together. Jesus says that only those who listen to his words and live by them have sound life. In the Bible, God is considered to be Rock (PS 18.3). Only those who contemplate the Word of God and live by it can have foundation on the Rock. The people who listened to the Sermon on the Mount acclaimed that Jesus was preaching with authority from God. The Pharisees did not have such authority. Let us examine our conscience: Are we speakers or livers of the word of God? We should feel authority of God when we instruct others.
PRAYER: Jesus! You are my rock. Help me to build my life on you.
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FINDING GOD IN THE TUMULT OF LIFE: One cannot aspire for a place in the kingdom of Heaven on the strength of mere good wishes alone! Good wishes and positive intentions must be backed by firm action. In the final count all that matters is, whether you give heed to God’s words and order your life accordingly: meaning one cannot compartmentalize one’s life into the spiritual realm and the ‘actual’. In a class of teenage students, a teacher finds twenty of her students talking simultaneously. One has a complaint, another seeks a clarification, yet another is looking for personal attention. They looked like baby squirrels looking for food. It’s a cacophony to her ears. They want to interact, want to express themselves. If she goes into a fit of rage she sure will break hearts and demolish relations. She is composed like a Zen-master and has a smile on her lips. It calls for some smart moves. A self-obsessed generation is deeply shrunk into his cocoon. He lives and believes in a make-believe world. Let’s not be blinded by the seeming progress and sophistication we have achieved in our lives. But remember, that it is when you pay heed to the word of God and act on it, you are genuinely ‘wise’.
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THE ROCK: The contemporary world pushes us around – with our frequent travels, the noisy phone calls, numerous appointments and engagements, shopping, house-keeping, taking care of children and spouses, wanting to be efficient in every-front, making money and being successful. The world out there is competitive, and I need to perform. Fair enough. In fact, the glory of God is the human person fully alive, as St Irenaeus tells us. But do we have a base? A foundation? A rock? If the rock is not there, then we run the risk of being sucked up by the contemporary world. We feel drained, fatigued and stressed! Then we are not fully alive and demonstrating the glory of God. So, what could be the rock? Jesus tells us: it is our attitude of contemplation of the Word. This is the rock. We need to listen to his word, ponder it in our hearts, and act on it. This will give us the base.
DAILY GOSPEL 