Liturgy Alive, Models of Celebrations

2 Kgs 24:8 –17; Ps 79:1b–2, 3– 5, 8, 9; Mt 7:21– 29

Daily Gospel

First Reading: 2 Kgs 24:8 –17

Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he began to reign,
and he reigned three months in Jerusalem. His mother’s name
was Nehushta, daughter of Elnathan of Jerusalem. He did evil
in the sight of the LORD, just as his forebears had done.
At that time the officials of Nebuchadnezzar, king of
Babylon, attacked Jerusalem, and the city came under siege.
Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, himself arrived at the city
while his servants were besieging it. Then Jehoiachin, king of
Judah, together with his mother, his ministers, officers, and
functionaries, surrendered to the king of Babylon, who, in the
eighth year of his reign, took him captive. And he carried off
all the treasures of the temple of the LORD and those of the
palace, and broke up all the gold utensils that Solomon, king of
Israel, had provided in the temple of the LORD, as the LORD had
foretold. He deported all Jerusalem: all the officers and men of
the army, ten thousand in number, and all the craftsmen and
smiths. None were left among the people of the land except the
poor. He deported Jehoiachin to Babylon, and also led captive
from Jerusalem to Babylon the king’s mother and wives, his
functionaries, and the chief men of the land. The king of Babylon
also led captive to Babylon all seven thousand men of the army,
and a thousand craftsmen and smiths, all of them trained
soldiers. In place of Jehoiachin, the king of Babylon appointed
his uncle Mattaniah king, and changed his name to Zedekiah.

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 79:1b–2, 3– 5, 8, 9

R./ For the glory of your name, O Lord, deliver us.

O God, the nations have come into your inheritance;
they have defiled your holy temple,
they have laid Jerusalem in ruins.
They have given the corpses of your servants
as food to the birds of heaven,
the flesh of your faithful ones to the beasts of the earth.
R./ For the glory of your name, O Lord, deliver us.

They have poured out their blood like water
round about Jerusalem,
and there is no one to bury them.
We have become the reproach of our neighbors,
the scorn and derision of those around us.
O LORD, how long? Will you be angry forever?
Will your jealousy burn like fire?
R./ For the glory of your name, O Lord, deliver us.

Remember not against us the iniquities of the past;
may your compassion quickly come to us,
for we are brought very low.
R./ For the glory of your name, O Lord, deliver us.

Help us, O God our savior,
because of the glory of your name;
Deliver us and pardon our sins
for your name’s sake.
R./ For the glory of your name, O Lord, deliver us.

Gospel Reading Introduction
"Not those who say, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom, but one who does the will of my Father." We are familiar with Jesus' Words, but do we follow them? Do we build on rock, that is, follow Jesus, or do we follow ourselves and our whims and so build on sand?

Gospel Reading: Mt 7:21– 29

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. Many will say
to me on that day, ‘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?’ Then I will declare to them
solemnly, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers.’
“Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on
them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. 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.
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.”
When Jesus finished these words, the crowds were astonished
at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority,
and not as their scribes.

Commentary

The firm foundation of faith, hope, and love is one upon which a person can build a life of virtue and holiness. In spite of what the world might say, the good life is measured by integrity, justice, and a right relationship with God. The good life is not spared the proverbial rains, floods and winds. But the strengths of its foundations in the teachings of the Lord will allow it to endure to the end.

A wise man once said, "Tough times never last, but tough people do." May we find our strength in the Lord, whose promises are always fulfilled.

General Intercessions

- That we may not just hear and know the Word of God but act accordingly and enthusiastically, we pray:

- That the Lord may be the rock in whom we put our trust and on whom we build our lives, that our faith may be rich and meaningful, we pray:

- That our friendships may be firm and reliable, we pray:

Prayer over the Gifts

Lord our God,
this bread and this wine are signs
that we want to do your will.
Give us your Son to go with us
the loyal road to you and to people.
For you are our God for ever and ever.

Prayer after Communion

Lord God, our rock,
we want to build our lives on you
by the power of Jesus your Son.
Through him, make us strong enough
to keep on our feet when the rains of sorrow come,
and the floods of trials rise,
and when the storm winds
of doubt and fear blow in us,
for you are our firm rock for ever.

Blessing

We want our life to be meaningful, to give direction to it. Let it be the direction given to it by God, by Jesus and his Gospel. Let us with Jesus seek God's will in all we do, for then we are sure our life is built on rock, solid and consistent. May God fill you with his blessing: the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.