Sand Castle
Greetings on this the Thursday of the First Week of Advent
Readings: Is 26:1-6; Ps 118:1 and 8-9, 19-21, 25-27a; Mt 7:21, 24-27
Summary
Jesus’ warning
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.
Isaiah’s construction advice
Trust in the LORD forever!
For the LORD is an eternal Rock.
Bad Outcomes
Jesus describes
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.
Isaiah describes
He humbles those in high places,
and the lofty city he brings down;
He tumbles it to the ground,
levels it with the dust.
Reflection
Listening and Saying and Doing without Love
Jesus has three basic warnings… Listen but not doing, Saying but not doing and Doing without love.
- Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them…
- Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’…
- Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name? Did we not drive out demons in your name? Did we not do mighty deeds in your name?’…
Each conclude with: Only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.
These three descriptions reveal that doing in love is the only real metric. Love is the ROCK that is the Lord made manifest in us. Remember the Widow’s mite.
Personal Reflection
As I journey through Advent the tensions between the natural man and the spiritual man become more obvious. Work, volunteerism, tasks and chores all vying for my attention even to the point of Grumpy Old Man (the sand). So many things! I must prioritize these things. Love and compassion first (the rock). All else… tomorrow.
Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/120524.cfm
Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry