27 June, 2024 | Thursday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time

 Reading1: 2 Kgs 24:8-17

 

Gospel Mt 7:21-29

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.

Many will say to me on that day,

‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name?

Did we not drive out demons in your name?

Did we not do mighty deeds in your name?’

Then I will declare to them solemnly,

‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers.’

“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.

Reflection: 

Clearly, Jesus knows how genuine our “Lord, Lord...” cry is.  Only those who listen to The Word and act on them are considered worthy of the Kingdom of heaven.

The Word must translate into works of obedience, of doing what God our heavenly Father wills.  This Jesus echoes in the example of the houses built on solid rock and on rocky ground.  Living The Word by digesting it through silent meditation and then our actions as per the will of God, stabilises and establishes a stronghold of God’s Divine Presence in our lives.  No wind or rain, no storm or gale, can stand a chance at destroying what is deep-rooted into solid rock.  

Activity: 

Examine the foundation over which you have built your life and your faith.