Word to the Wise
Thursday, December 6, 2018 - 1st Week of Advent - Thurs
[Isa 26:1-6 and Matt 7:21, 24-27]THURSDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2018 THURSDAY IN THE FIRST WEEK OF ADVENT (St. Nicholas of Myra) [Isaiah 26:1-6 and Matthew 7:21, 24-27] “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 man who built his house on rock....” [Matthew] “Trust in the Lord forever! For the Lord is an eternal Rock.” [Isaiah] The “words” of Jesus in today’s gospel scripture from the Gospel According to Matthew are the concluding words of the Sermon on the Mount. It should be noted that it is not enough to express admiration for those words. It is necessary to ACT on them. It is action that builds the foundation for a true Christian life. Jesus uses the image of rock, just as Isaiah does in today’s first scripture, to portray the kind of faith/action he means. In a secular season (“the holidays”) which can be very difficult for many people, Advent offers the possibility to read the Sermon on the Mount and also, later on in Matthew, the scene of the Last Judgment (25:31-45) and ask ourselves how our lives reflect the standards set by Jesus. How do we care for others? Does our faith shape our political decisions (or is it the other way around)? Are we simply “admiring” Jesus and saying, “Lord, Lord?” Can we rise above “the holidays” to an intentional Advent and Christmas season which brings about conversion in attitude that, in turn, inspires real action on our part for those in Matthew 25:31-45 [“When I was hungry......]? Our baptismal call means that “Emmanuel” can come year round if we bring him!” AMEN