“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” – Matthew 7:24

I love the Parable of the Wise and the Foolish Builders. We even sang that song when we were kids. “The wise man built his house upon the rock….”

Our houses and our lives will always be tested by the rains and floods—problems and challenges—that will come. 

We cannot just be hearers; we should be doers, especially when it comes to hearing and putting into practice God’s Word.

We build on rock when we obey what He says. That’s where a lot of people—including those who preach God’s Word— crumble and fall. When we just hear or speak them without doing them, we will be like the house that fell flat.

But it would also be foolish to think that practicing God’s Word alone is what will make you stand firm. That, too, can make you fall as it will lead you to a more dangerous thing—self-righteousness or spiritual pride.

It is only when we build on Jesus, the Rock, and receive His love and mercy—that we will truly stand firm. Even when we fall, He enables us to stand again. 

Alvin Barcelona (apb_ayo@yahoo.com) 

reflect

Where is your house—your life—built on? Is it on the love and mercy of Jesus, our Lord? If not, rebuild it as you should.

Dear God, help me build my house, my life on You, so that if and when I fall, I can hold on to You and rise again. Amen.

St. John Damascene, priest and Doctor of the Church, pray for us.

In the Scriptures, trust and peace are often linked. When we entrust our lives and concerns to the Lord, He gives us His peace. We may feel peace in our hearts and be reconciled with Him. Let us be people of peace, bringing the peace of Christ into our homes, families, and workplaces.

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

For a country that often experiences floods, the story of the house built on a rock that withstood the floods and winds feels significant. Although the foundations of a house are not visible, they are important for the safety and strength of the house. Similarly, we must build our spiritual life on a rock, and not sand, so that when trials come, we will stand firm and not collapse. 

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 PSALMS 146 - 150 today.

Three men were vying for the hand of a beautiful woman in marriage. The woman’s father called for the three men to ask them how they plan to provide for his daughter once they were married. The first man laid out his plans, and the father, impressed, could only say, “Well said.” The second man spoke, and the father was also impressed. “Well said,” he declared. The third man was late and, when the father asked why, he replied, “I’m sorry, I was cultivating, irrigating, and planting vegetations on the farm where we will settle in the future.” The father smiled and said, “Well done!” And he gave him his daughter’s hand in marriage. Moral of the story: What is better than “Well said”? “Well done!”

In the Scriptures, salvation is always tied up with actions, deeds, and works of charity—those that proceed from a deep faith.

In Matthew 25:31-46, the famous parable of the end-times, the damned asked, “Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help You?” And the response was: “Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do (emphasis mine) for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.” The term “Lord” seemed to indicate that they had faith in God, but there was something lacking in that faith. In the same vein, those who were saved were saved because of what they did to the least of their brothers. Today’s Gospel signals the same teaching. Even those who say, “Lord, Lord . . .” will not become assured of salvation. Only those who do the will of the Father will be saved.

The Advent challenges us to incarnate our words—that they be concretized in palpable love of God and neighbor.

Fr. Joel Jason

Reflection question

The Word was made flesh at Christmas. How can you make the Word become flesh in your life not only during Christmas but for always? 

And the Word was made flesh. And dwelt among us. Amen.

Today, I pray for: ___________________________________