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Mt 7:21-29
[Jesus said to his disciples,] 21“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. 22Many
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?’ 23Then I will declare to them solemnly, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers.’
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. 25The
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. 26And 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. 27The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. And it collapsed and was completely ruined.”
28When Jesus finished these words, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, 29for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.
Reflection:
A wise man who built his house on rock. The
rock is an image of solid foundation, protection, and security. It also
means a stronghold and a safe refuge. The rock in the Old Testament
refers to God as a secure foundation. When David was saved from his
enemies, he proclaimed, “O Lord, my rock, my fortress, my deliverer, my
God, my rock of refuge! My shield, the horn of my salvation, my
stronghold, my refuge, my savior, from violence you keep me safe” (2 Sm
22:2-3).
Jesus asks for our performance, not
promises. Knowing Jesus is not enough. We have to fulfill his will, to
follow his words, and to relive his ways. Being true disciples of Jesus
is making Jesus alive in our lives. We build our lives on Jesus. We are
like that wise man who built his house on rock. With Jesus as our
foundation, we will not be shaken. We will withstand the storms and
torrents, the trials and tribulations, of life.
What are the things in my life that I have built on rock?What are the things that I have built on sand?
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