Word to the Wise
Thursday, June 28, 2018 - Thursday in the 12th Week in Ordinary Time
[2 Kgs 24:8-17 and Matt 7:21-29]THURSDAY, JUNE 28, 2018 ST. IRENAEUS, (bishop and martyr) [2 Kings 24:8-17 and Matthew 7:21-29] “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. [Matthew] Today’s passage from the Sermon on the Mount bring Christianity 101 to a conclusion. Jesus, from the top of the mountain, speaks as a “new Moses” and presents his teaching on his own authority and not like the scribes who simply quoted other authorities. Jesus also warns that listening politely is not enough. One must act on the teachings. Among the actions that the Kingdom of heaven demands are those that we will find in Matthew 25:31-45: “When I was hungry.....”. Another action is that of forgiveness, which we find in the Lord’s Prayer, and is echoed in the parable of the unforgiving servant [Matthew 19:21-35]. The Sermon on the Mount, which I have been calling “Christianity 101,” is not simply a list of helpful suggestions for a happy life. Jesus regards his words as the foundation of faith in him. He does not present them in an “a la carte” fashion or “one from column A and one from column B” menu. The remainder of the Gospel According to Matthew will illustrate Jesus’ words in action. We who are baptized are challenged to do the same. AMEN
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