Matthew 7:21, 24-27

Isaiah 26:1-6

Psalm 118:1 and 8-9, 19-21, 25-27a

Matthew 7:21, 24-27

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.

“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.”

Opening Prayer: Lord God, you are all-powerful and all-knowing. Help me today to build a house on solid rock rather than shifting sand. Inspire me with your Spirit of Wisdom. Enkindle my heart to burn with love for you.

Encountering the Word of God

1. A Tale of Two Cities: The First Reading and the Gospel have many similarities, for both speak about construction and destruction, solidness and security, and entry into the city or into the kingdom of heaven. There is an invitation to trust in the Lord and build our lives on the Rock, who is the Lord himself. Isaiah speaks about having a strong city characterized by justice, faith, firm purpose, and peace. He also refers to the humbling of the lofty city. In its original context, it is a prophecy that the evil cities of Moab and the mighty Babylon will one day fall. Applied to our lives, God is inviting us to see how the humble will be exalted, and the prideful will be cast down. Will we be like the city of God, built on the solid rock of divine grace that flourishes in virtue? Or like the city built on shifting sand that is mired in vice?

2. The Gates of God’s City: The Responsorial Psalm takes up the theme of “opening the gates.” Those who enter the gates of God’s city are the just. We can identify the just, mentioned in the First Reading, with those who do the will of our heavenly Father, mentioned in the Gospel. God’s will is that we be a holy people. This holiness is not achieved solely through our own efforts to observe and keep the Old Law but rather is achieved through our free acceptance of God’s grace and mercy. Alone, we can do nothing. But united to Christ, the Son of God, all things are possible, including entering the gates of God’s eternal dwelling.

3. The Solid Things of Heaven: Our lives cannot be built on sand: on the latest fades, on earthly pleasures, on possessions, on things that shift with the passage of time. That is the life of the fool. Our lives only have sense and meaning when they are built on the Lord God, the Rock. That is the life of the wise and prudent man. What gives solidity to our lives on earth? The things of heaven: God the Father, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, Mary our Mother, the Church, divine grace, the Eucharist, charity, faith, hope, wisdom, piety, fortitude, fear of the Lord, knowledge, understanding, counsel, justice, temperance, courage, and prudence. Our final home is not an earthly grave. Our true home is heaven. The gates of the heavenly city are the goal of our striving. One day, if we persevere in love, we will enter those gates and give thanks to the Lord.

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, I hope that I am acting in this passing world like a citizen of heaven. My earthly life is like the blink of an eye compared to the eternity that awaits me. Strengthen me for the battle ahead.

Living the Word of God: How are the foundations of my life? Are they solid, built on holy principles? Are my eyes fixed on Jesus as I run the race? What tempts me to stray from the path that leads to life?