I believe every parent prays and works hard for their children to be good and God-fearing. Two of my four children are now in their teens, and they’re entering a new world without me there all the time. All I can do is trust that the foundations I’ve laid down during their younger years will be stronger than any negative influence. 

I believe the best foundation that we can lay down for our children is not what’s in our bank accounts or the properties we’ve acquired. The strongest foundation is our faith, which can be seen more in our actions than our words. Let’s go to Mass regularly. Join a community. Give and serve as much as we can. All these will be part of our children’s core. 

We don’t know what the future holds. We don’t know when the rains will come and how big the storms can be. We can only trust in the foundation that we have laid down beforehand. If our lives are built upon Jesus Christ, we can have peace and joy even in the storm. Mia Bueno (buenos@yahoo.com)

Reflect:

What foundations are you laying down for your life and your family? It’s never too late to build it upon the Rock. 

Father God, thank You for Your love. Thank You for another day to work and build our foundations. Guide us all the way. Amen. 

Saint Sabas, pray for us.

The Lord our God defends us against the powers of the enemy. The question is whether or not we are humble enough to submit our lives to Him. Humility can be a very elusive virtue. It is not easy to attain. Let us reflect on the coming of Jesus among us as a child as we seek to grow in humility and surrender our lives more deeply to Him.

¹ 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. ² Open up the gates to let in a nation that is just, one that keeps faith. ³ A nation of firm purpose you keep in peace; in peace, for its trust in you.” ⁴ Trust in the Lord forever! For the Lord is an eternal Rock. ⁵ He humbles those in high places, and the lofty city he brings down; He tumbles it to the ground, levels it with the dust. ⁶ It is trampled underfoot by the needy, by the footsteps of the poor. 

Responsorial Psalm | Psalm 118:1, 8-9, 19-21, 25-27

R: Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

¹ Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever. ⁸ It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man. 9 It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes. (R) ¹⁹ Open to me the gates of justice; I will enter them and give thanks to the Lord. ²⁰ This gate is the Lord’s; the just shall enter it. ²¹ I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me and have been my savior. (R) ²⁵ O Lord, grant salvation! O Lord, grant prosperity! ²⁶ Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; we bless you from the house of the Lord. ²⁷ The Lord is God, and he has given us light. (R) 

Gospel | Matthew 7:21, 24-27

The foundation is the most important aspect of a house. If this is not firm, then the rest of the house will come tumbling down. The same is true for our spiritual life. Without a firm and solid foundation, we will be blown around by the wind whenever a new “doctrine” or devotion arises. This is not a good basis for growing in holiness. We need to be firmly grounded in the Word of God and the traditions of the Church so as to grow in holiness.

Gospel Acclamation

Seek the Lord while he may be found; call him while he is near.

²¹ 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. ²⁴ “Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. ²⁵ 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. ²⁶ 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. ²⁷ The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. And it collapsed and was completely ruined.” 

Read the Bible in one year! Read EPHESIANS 4 - 6 today.

As the typhoons that hit our country get more intense and destructive every year, the need to make sure that the houses are sturdier and stronger, especially in regions often in the typhoon’s track, increases.   

Today’s readings speak of similar strong structures that can withstand the strength of nature and the test of time. The passage from Isaiah speaks of a “strong 

city” whose strength, the prophet says, comes from putting one’s full trust in the Lord. The passage from Matthew’s Gospel presents some contrasting images of houses. These houses differ simply by the material on which they are built: one on rock while the other on sand. We can imagine that both have initially seemed to do well, to sit firmly, to be solid. But when the rain, floods, and winds come, only the house built on rock survives.   

As parents, our children need a firm foundation of values and expectations that can guide them now and carry them into adult life. More often, children who have had to work their way through life are the ones who possess the strength and the determination to navigate life’s ups and downs. However, those who have been spoiled, overindulged, and pampered tend to grow up lazy, selfish, and irresponsible. Hence, there is a need to emphasize a more solid value and faith formation for our children.    

The Gospel’s challenge to us during these early Advent days is to invest our very lives in things that last, that are solid, that can be counted on. Yes, these are the words of Jesus that we do not only listen to, but which we are missioned to act upon.   

May we build our lives on the solid foundation of our faith in God. Let us keep the faith. May we always look to God, to hope and trust in Him as our Eternal Rock! Fr. Rick Montañez, AA

reflection questions

How firm is your faith in God? Do you easily give up when trying moments come? 

Lord, make me trust You more so that I may bravely and serenely face all challenges in life. Amen.

Today, I pray for: ____________________________