Word to the Wise
Thursday, December 1, 2016 - 1st Week of Advent - Thurs
[Isa 26:1-6 and Matt 7:21, 24-27]"Trust in the Lord forever! For the Lord is an eternal Rock." [Isaiah] "Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a man who built his house on rock." [Matthew]
Across the street from our residence in Lubbock, TX, a new Catholic student center is being constructed. I have watched for weeks how the builders prepared the site, laying down additional and particular soil to create a solid foundation for a large building. In the last few days, a second foundation has appeared in the form of a cement slab. Soon the skeleton will appear and the rest will take shape. Jesus' teaching about building on rock take on additional meaning when one observes a process like construction! He mentions a two-fold process: listening and acting. Isaiah also gives us something that comes before listening and acting: trust in the Lord.
We are more likely to listen to someone in whom we trust. We are more likely to act on their advice. We accept their counsel as a solid foundation on which to rely. In Advent, as we begin once more to tell the story of God's plan of salvation in Jesus Christ, we are listening (not just hearing) to God's promise and believing in its fulfillment in the birth of Jesus. How can we act on this? In our homes, we can give greater prominence to that "manger scene." We can have an Advent wreath and light the candles as Advent progresses. We can read the scriptures given for each day. Outside our homes, we can find a way to make this season a happier one for those who have little or no resources to join in the joy. We can be aware of the suffering of those who have lost a loved one recently and offer understanding. These are ways of building on the eternal Rock. They are ways of listening and acting in Advent. AMEN
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