Matthew 7:21-29

Matthew 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.

Opening Prayer: Lord God, I want my house and my life to be built wisely on solid rock and not foolishly on shifting sand. I promise to listen to the life-giving words of your Son and act on them. May I accomplish your heavenly will in all that I do.

Encountering the Word of God

1. Two Kinds of Paths: The Sermon on the Mount began with the promise of nine blessings upon those who practice humility, justice, and peace. The Sermon ends with three warnings. We read the first warning on Tuesday (Matthew 7:12-14): Woe to those who walk along the easy path that leads to the wide gate. It is a path and gate that leads to destruction and eternal death. The narrow and difficult path and gate lead to eternal life. Which path are we following right now? Which path will we follow in the days ahead?

2. Two Kinds of Prophets: Yesterday, we celebrated the Solemnity of the Nativity of John the Baptist, so we didn’t hear the first part of the second warning from the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 7:15-20). After contrasting two paths, Jesus highlights the difference between listening to false prophets and true prophets. False prophets are wolves in sheep’s clothing. The fruit they produce may look good at first, but ultimately it is rotten. Rotten trees produce rotten fruit; good trees produce good fruit. Lambs and sheep who follow the Good Shepherd produce good fruit, often through the dedication and sacrifice of their lives. Wolves can put on a good show, but eventually are caught and unmasked. The false prophet – the wolf in sheep’s clothing – cries out, “Lord, Lord,” but this is just empty lip-service and is only for show. It is not true faith working through charity. Instead of helping others to grow in knowledge of the good shepherd and develop a relationship with the shepherd, they merely go through the motions. They want to take advantage of others and care very little, in the end, if others are brought to Christ. Which false prophets have I followed?

3. Two Kinds of Builders: The third warning brings out the need to do the will of the Father in order to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. We need to listen to Jesus’ words and act on them. If we do this, our lives will be built on solid rock and not sand. Jesus is the one who reveals to us the will of the Father. Every time we read the Gospel in prayer, we are listening to Jesus’ words. By keeping his commands, we remain in his love (John 15:10). God’s word enables us to find the path that leads to harmony with God’s loving will. In Jesus of Nazareth, Pope Benedict taught that we can discern God’s will and recognize it in our conscience, but that we also need Jesus to draw us up to himself and into himself, so that in communion with him we can learn God’s will (see Benedict XVI, Jesus of Nazareth, Vol. 1, 148-150). What kind of foundation have I built my life on?

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, Lord Jesus, you have built your house on rock. It will never fail or be destroyed. Teach me how to build my house properly. May I truly be in this world a Temple of your Spirit, a spiritual house of prayer, sacrifice, and merciful love.

Living the Word of God: How is my “house”? Are the foundations of my life – my faith – solid? What relationships are in urgent need of repair? What needs to be touched up? What needs to be remodeled? What needs to be expanded? Are the poor welcome in my house? Do people encounter God’s love in my house?