Thursday 25 June

Today is Thursday the 25th of June in the twelfth week of Ordinary Time.

One Hope Project sing, ‘Where the Lord Dwells’.  Pause now…prepare yourself for prayer by settling your body and taking some deep breaths… Begin to draw all your attention to the Lord…

Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Matthew.

Matthew 7:21, 24-27

‘Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord”, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only one who does the will of my Father in heaven. 

‘Everyone then who hears 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 beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell—and great was its fall!’

Today’s reading sets before us two houses – one built on rock, the other on sand – two very different locations! But both embody a basic truth about the spiritual life. Which do you most identify with?

Our faith calls us to act on the words of the Gospel, to make them our own so that they might be central to our lives and our day to day living. If this is the case, we are building on a firm foundation, on rock. Securely founded, our faith is able to withstand the inevitable crises that come our way, that put our faith to the test: Is this how you see your faith...?

Jesus says true wisdom is about listening to and practicing the Word of God. It is not enough to say “Lord, Lord!” The important thing is not to say beautiful words about God; but to do the will of the Father & so reveal God’s love & presence in the world.

Are you among those who say “Lord, Lord” or among those who put the Word into practice? Where is the location of your house?

Even in the midst of life’s storms, there is a certain calm, even joy, that comes from knowing that we have in our faith a sure foundation. As you listen to the reading again, keep this thought in mind.

Think of a time in your life when you lived through a crisis. How did the rock of faith help you to “weather the storm”? Is there someone you know who is trying to weather a storm at this time and who needs your prayer and support today? Bring all this before the Lord in these last few moments.