Daily Gospel Reflection for December 4, 2014

Today's Gospel: Matthew 7:21, 24-27

Today’s Gospel reading reminds us of what true discipleship means. "Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father Who is in heaven," Jesus tells us. This statement comes right after the Sermon on the Mount, so we know that Jesus is talking about living radically in, with and for God. We understand that what He asks of us is impossible in our own strength. An outward practice of religion where we say, "Lord, Lord," repeat prayers, go to mass and give alms is not enough. No we must actually do the will of God, and that is only possible if we build our lives on Him.

In this parable, Jesus describes one who hears His words and does them as a man who, when building his house, digs his foundation deeply upon rock. When a flood threatens it, the house remains intact on its secure base. The foundation of rock on which we are called to build our lives is obviously Christ Himself. As I Corinthians 3:11 says, "For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus." Yes we choose to listen to His words and put them into practice, but we cannot save ourselves; we need Christ to redeem us, to live in, with, and through us.

The man who builds on sand probably works just as hard if not harder than the man who builds on rock because he is doing everything on his own, in his own human strength. Yet despite all his efforts, his house will fall when the floods come. The house could be our life achievements, our work, or perhaps our very characters. The flood obviously represents the trials of life. Without God, we fall apart. During stress and trials, the parts of my life that are lived in my ego literally fall apart. Only the parts of myself that are grounded in Christ will stand against all pressure.

Ponder:

What parts of my life are still built on sand of my false ego and which parts built on the foundation of Christ Himself, the rock of all ages?

Pray:

Jesus forgive me for building my life on lies. Dismantle those areas of my life and let us build my life in, with and through you.

Copyright 2014 Melanie Jean Juneau