Scripture Readings:
First Reading: Deut. 11:18,26-28,32
Psalm Reading: Ps 31
Second Reading: Rom. 3:21-25, 28
Gospel: Matt. 7:21-27
First Reading Dt 11:18, 26-28, 32
A reading from the Book of Deuteronomy
I set before you here this day a blessing and a curse.
Moses told the people,
“Take these words of mine into your heart and soul.
Bind them at your wrist as a sign,
and let them be a pendant on your forehead.
“I set before you here, this day, a blessing and a curse:
a blessing for obeying the commandments of the Lord, your God,
which I enjoin on you today;
a curse if you do not obey the commandments of the Lord, your God,
but turn aside from the way I ordain for you today,
to follow other gods, whom you have not known.
Be careful to observe all the statutes and decrees
that I set before you.”
Responsorial Psalm Ps 31:2-3, 3-4, 17, 25
(R.) Lord, be my rock of safety.
In you, O LORD, I take refuge;
let me never be put to shame.
In your justice rescue me,
incline your ear to me,
make haste to deliver me!
(R.) Lord, be my rock of safety.
Be my rock of refuge,
a stronghold to give me safety.
You are my rock and my fortress;
for your name’s sake you will lead and guide me.
(R.) Lord, be my rock of safety.
Let your face shine upon your servant;
save me in your kindness.
Take courage and be stouthearted,
all you who hope in the LORD.
(R.) Lord, be my rock of safety.
Second Reading Rom 3:21-25, 28
A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans
A person is justified by faith apart from works of the law.
Brothers and sisters,
Now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law,
though testified to by the law and the prophets,
the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ
for all who believe.
For there is no distinction;
all have sinned and are deprived of the glory of God.
They are justified freely by his grace
through the redemption in Christ Jesus,
whom God set forth as an expiation,
through faith, by his blood.
For we consider that a person is justified by faith
apart from works of the law.
Gospel Mt 7:21-27
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew
The house built on rock, and the house built on sand.
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.”
Discipleship Questions:
1. The uniting theme in our readings for today is the idea that God is our rock, our strong foundation. I have to believe that God wants to encourage us in these tumultuous times to trust completely in Him. Please read the first verse of our Old Testament reading and reflect on the strength of the command. Look particularly on the verbs being used.
2. No reflect on Psalm 31 and note again the strong, even strident words being used.
3. No turn to our Gospel reading. Please read it in the form provided above and then read it in the translation below from “The Message:” Matt. 7:21 “Knowing the correct password—saying ‘Master, Master,’ for instance—isn’t going to get you anywhere with me. What is required is serious obedience—doing what my Father wills. 22 I can see it now—at the Final Judgment thousands strutting up to me and saying, ‘Master, we preached the Message, we bashed the demons, our God-sponsored projects had everyone talking.’ 23 And do you know what I am going to say? ‘You missed the boat. All you did was use me to make yourselves important. You don’t impress me one bit. You’re out of here.’
Matt. 7:24 “These words I speak to you are not incidental additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundational words, words to build a life on. If you work these words into your life, you are like a smart carpenter who built his house on solid rock. 25 Rain poured down, the river flooded, a tornado hit—but nothing moved that house. It was fixed to the rock.
Matt. 7:26 “But if you just use my words in Bible studies and don’t work them into your life, you are like a stupid carpenter who built his house on the sandy beach. 27 When a storm rolled in and the waves came up, it collapsed like a house of cards.”
Matt. 7:28 When Jesus concluded his address, the crowd burst into applause. They had never heard teaching like this!
4. Please focus with me on the words, “If you work these words into your life – they are like a smart carpenter who builds his house on solid rock!” You know you can build on sand but you must also dig down deep until you hit bedrock and then you can build your house. What we’re getting at here is the idea that we must dig deep to find God and His specific revelations for us. Have you ever really really really tried to discover what God had for you? I mean really dig – to wait upon Him with a patient but expectant heart and listened for whatever He would say to you? This exercise needs real discernment because some revelations may come from you – discard them. Some may also come from Satan – discard them. Wait and listen – listen with your whole being and God will reward your efforts but not only will you receive an answer you will have learnt how to really listen to our Lord!
5. This is what “Working God’s words into our heart is really all about! The challenge – the trick, if you will, is to hear Him – see Him, fell Him, sense His presence! And that more often than not takes work! Digging deep down into ourselves and into Him!
As St. Augustine once said, “O Lord, let me know You so that I may know me. Let me know me so that I may know You!.” Amen and Amen!
