FOUNDED ON THE ROCK…

Isaiah 26:1-6 
1 In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: “We have a strong city; he sets up salvation as walls and bulwarks.
2 Open the gates, that the righteous nation which keeps faith may enter in.3 Thou dost keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusts in thee.
4 Trust in the LORD for ever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting. For he has brought low the inhabitants of the height, the lofty city. He lays it low, lays it low to the ground, casts it to the dust.6 The foot tramples it, the feet of the poor, the steps of the needy.”

Matthew 7:21,24-27

21 “Not every one who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.24 “Every one then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house upon the rock;25 and the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.
26 And every one who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house upon the sand;27 and the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell; and great was the fall of it.”

MEDITATION

THE PROPHET ISAIAH employ structural building terms to describe the ‘Qahal,’ the house of God; the ecclessia, assembly or the body of Christ, that is founded upon an “everlasting rock” wherein a righteous people enter to keep the faith.The inhabitants of this “lofty city,” aught not to only focus on their salvation and trample on or forget the needy, but to humble reach out and take care of them, in and out of season.

THE GOSPEL READING: Our Lord makes the point that when His followers “hears [His] words,” apply and or execute it in their daily lives, it is akin to a skilled artisan or craftsman who use his gifts and talents to build his house upon a rock. In other words “faith alone” is not a sufficient salvific principle if the believer could not care less about the poor, sick or needy.

Christ (v26) makes the point that we need to respond to His word which require some outreach or ‘doing’ on our part. If indeed our faith is premised on the novel fictitious “bible” or “faith alone” principle, it is akin to living in a house made of straw that is resting on sand! To shout, dance and bellow the words “Lord, Lord” is like blowing our prayers in the wind, meaning that it counts for little if we are not in the house that our Lord established upon Peter the Rock, where the Holy Eucharist is offered daily for our nourishment, hope, deliverance and rest! Mt 16:18 Don’t be foolish by living in a house made of straw, you are cordially invited to come home to the house that was founded upon Peter.

LET US PRAY:Psalms 118:1,8-9,19-21,25-27

1 we O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his steadfast love endures for ever!8 It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to put confidence in man.9 It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.
19 Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the LORD.20 This is the gate of the LORD; the righteous shall enter through it.21 I thank thee that thou hast answered me and hast become my salvation.25 Save us, we beseech thee, O LORD! O LORD, we beseech thee, give us success!
26 Blessed be he who enters in the name of the LORD! We bless you from the house of the LORD.27 The LORD is God, and he has given us light. Bind the festal procession with branches, up to the horns of the altar!

Commentary. Henry R SYLVESTER Note: The daily scripture readings are taken from the Roman Missal which the Catholic Church use in the daily Celebration of the Holy Eucharist throughout the world.Some weekly readings may differ because of the celebration of local feast days.