Thursday, December 5, 2002
1st Week of Advent
1st Reading: Is 26:1-6
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 the one who does the will of my heavenly Father.
"So, then, anyone who hears these words of mine and acts accordingly is like a wise man, who built his house on rock. The rain poured, the rivers flooded, and the wind blew and struck that house, but it did not collapse because it was built on rock. But anyone who hears these words of mine and does not act accordingly, is like a fool who built his house on sand. The rain poured, the rivers flooded, and the wind blew and struck that house; it collapsed, and what a terrible fall that was!"
Commentary
Isaiah praises God: "You keep in perfect peace the one who trusts in you." His proclamation is a Magnificat: God has brought down the high and mighty, leveled their mansions to be trampled by the destitute and oppressed. The gospel uses the same symbol of houses which stand or fall. Jesus has just given an extended teaching: reconcile before worshipping; be faithful in relationships; do not return evil for evil; love your enemies; keep your donations anonymous; don't make a show of religious practices; you cannot serve God and money; don't judge; do to others as you would have them do to you. To live by these values is to build on rock. Christmas is not just for children. He whose birth we celebrate invites all to a high degree of adult maturity and true wisdom - the narrow gate that leads to life.