7 December, 2023 | Memorial of Saint Ambrose, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

 Gospel Mt 7:21, 24-27

Jesus said to his disciples:

"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 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."

Faith like the foundation on rock.... click here

Reflections: 

The gospel today reminds us that our security is found only in God, the real foundation of our life. And we will realise this truth only if we listen to his words—and not only listen and understand, but that our listening should lead to concrete action. As Jesus says, “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.” Now, what is God’s will for us today? We need to read the signs of the times, as Jesus himself exhorts us. And being in the season of Advent, perhaps the Lord wants us to question ourselves: What really makes our life secure? Strong leadership in the country, with military efficiency; sufficient financial resources and wise investments; our education/status, our family, our high level contacts? We know that none of these will make us secure if God is not behind them all. With God, we will always be safe. And with him by our side, no storm of life will overcome us. 

Activity: 

Let us meditate this verse from Isaiah: “Trust in the LORD forever, for in the LORD GOD you have an everlasting rock” (Is 26:4).