December 5, 2024

Matthew 7:21, 24-27

This is the parable that compares a wise man who built his house on rock that withstood all the forces of weather and a foolish man who built his house on sand that washed away and collapsed when rain, wind, and floods came.  The rock is the practice of following God’s will, which we understand to be to love God and love neighbor, and to follow Jesus’ teachings of care and solidarity for the poor, sick, vulnerable, and marginalized.  The sand is the foolish tendency to rely on passing phenomena that entertain, distract, or temporarily comfort us.

Being wise and staying focused on Jesus and his teachings is like being aware of the sun, always there whether it is cloudy or not.  Being foolish is like staring at the clouds and expecting them to stay in place permanently.  The nature of clouds is to change and dissipate, and this is the nature of phenomena.

Let us examine in our hearts, are we truly in solidarity with the poor and vulnerable, even when it is a bit uncomfortable?  Or do we blithely rationalize putting ourselves and our families first when things are comfortable as the “normal” thing to do, and yet get angry and blame others when things are uncomfortable? 

Jesus asks a lot of us.  He is telling us that simply calling his name does not automatically put us on the path to the Kingdom of Heaven; only those who make an honest effort to practice and follow the will of God the Father are on the path of the Kingdom.  On this planet, the contrast between those who have everything they need and more, and those who are barely surviving, is stark.  Let us consider that. Where do we put our trust, in the sun or the clouds? Amen.