Where the beatitudes begin Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount in
Chapter 5 of Matthew’s Gospel, today we hear the end of the sermon and the end
of chapter 7. “Everyone who listens to
these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house
on rock.” What words? Well, the words of Jesus’ Sermon. Today we might want to go back and read this
entire Sermon, to get the whole thing in perspective.
“Those who listen to these words of mine but does not act on
them will be like a fool who built his house on sand.” Both the wise man and the fool have something
in common. They both heard the
sermon. This difference between the wise
man and the fool is acting on them—the wise man does, the fool does not.
The other commonality is that both of their houses are
buffeted by the inevitable winds and storms and rains and floods. But because the wise man is rooted in the
Word of God, his house will survive. Notice, what Jesus isn’t promising here. He
doesn’t promise that if you follow him, your life will be easy. He doesn’t
promise that you’ll never experience the metaphorical stormy weather. He does promise, however, that IF you make
His Word the rock foundation of your life, you will survive. While the fool, who ignores the commandments, becomes enslaved
to sin, pursues only power, fame, and pleasure will not survive, eternally.
As I prepare engaged couples for marriage, I’m always happy
when they choose this Gospel passage for their wedding ceremony. They wisely
realize that their marriage must be grounded on God. God needs to be the rock solid foundation of
a marriage. Or else, the marriage will
not be what it is meant to be, it will likely collapse.
I often remind the bride and groom that they can only love
each other as they should, when they love God as they should. And their example will be passed on to their
children. Either of faithfulness or
faithlessness, and for each there will be eternal consequences.
But a marriage, and our lives in general, will only
withstand all of the pressures and difficulties, when we have real authentic
faith. Not being Catholic-in-name-only,
but acting on what we’ve been taught.
May we be found among the ranks of the wise today and
always, that our houses may withstand all of the inevitable storms of life, and
that in our foolishness we may have a change of heart, for the glory of God and
salvation of souls.
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