Thursday of the First Week of Advent
Lectionary: 178
Lectionary: 178
On that day they will sing this song in the land of Judah:
"A strong city have we;
he sets up walls and ramparts to protect us.
Open up the gates
to let in a nation that is just,
one that keeps faith.
A nation of firm purpose you keep in peace;
in peace, for its trust in you."
Trust in the LORD forever!
For the LORD is an eternal Rock.
He humbles those in high places,
and the lofty city he brings down;
He tumbles it to the ground,
levels it with the dust.
It is trampled underfoot by the needy,
by the footsteps of the poor.
"A strong city have we;
he sets up walls and ramparts to protect us.
Open up the gates
to let in a nation that is just,
one that keeps faith.
A nation of firm purpose you keep in peace;
in peace, for its trust in you."
Trust in the LORD forever!
For the LORD is an eternal Rock.
He humbles those in high places,
and the lofty city he brings down;
He tumbles it to the ground,
levels it with the dust.
It is trampled underfoot by the needy,
by the footsteps of the poor.
Responsorial
PsalmPS 118:1 AND 8-9, 19-21,
25-27A
R.(26a) Blessed
is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his mercy endures forever.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in man.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in princes.
R. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Open to me the gates of justice;
I will enter them and give thanks to the LORD.
This gate is the LORD's;
the just shall enter it.
I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me
and have been my savior.
R. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
O LORD, grant salvation!
O LORD, grant prosperity!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD;
we bless you from the house of the LORD.
The LORD is God, and he has given us light.
R. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his mercy endures forever.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in man.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in princes.
R. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Open to me the gates of justice;
I will enter them and give thanks to the LORD.
This gate is the LORD's;
the just shall enter it.
I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me
and have been my savior.
R. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
O LORD, grant salvation!
O LORD, grant prosperity!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD;
we bless you from the house of the LORD.
The LORD is God, and he has given us light.
R. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
AlleluiaIS 55:6
R. Alleluia,
alleluia.
Seek the LORD while he may be found;
call him while he is near.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Seek the LORD while he may be found;
call him while he is near.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelMT 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."
"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."
Meditation: "Who shall enter the kingdom of
heaven?"
What's
the best security against disaster and destruction? In the ancient world a
strong city, an impregnable fortress, and a secure house were built on solid
rock because they could withstand the forces of nature and foe alike. Isaiah
speaks of God as an "everlasting rock" (Isaiah 26:4). He is the rock
of refuge and deliverance (Psalm 18:2) and the rock in whom there is no wrong
(Psalm 92:15). Scripture warns that destruction will surely come to those who
place their security in something other than God and his kingdom. Jesus'
parables invite us to stake our lives on the coming of his kingdom or face the
consequences of being unprepared when the day of testing and destruction will
surely come.
The
only foundation that can keep us safe
When Jesus told the story of the builders he likely had the following proverb in mind: "When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone, but the righteous stand firm for ever" (Proverbs 10:25). What's the significance of the story for us? The kind of foundation we build our lives upon will determine whether we can survive the storms that are sure to come. Builders usually lay their foundations when the weather and soil conditions are at their best. It takes foresight to know how a foundation will stand up against adverse conditions. Building a house on a flood plain, such as a dry river-bed, is a sure bet for disaster! Jesus prefaced his story with a warning: We may fool humans with our speech, but God cannot be deceived. He sees the heart as it truly is - with its motives, intentions, desires, and choices (Psalm 139:2).
When Jesus told the story of the builders he likely had the following proverb in mind: "When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone, but the righteous stand firm for ever" (Proverbs 10:25). What's the significance of the story for us? The kind of foundation we build our lives upon will determine whether we can survive the storms that are sure to come. Builders usually lay their foundations when the weather and soil conditions are at their best. It takes foresight to know how a foundation will stand up against adverse conditions. Building a house on a flood plain, such as a dry river-bed, is a sure bet for disaster! Jesus prefaced his story with a warning: We may fool humans with our speech, but God cannot be deceived. He sees the heart as it truly is - with its motives, intentions, desires, and choices (Psalm 139:2).
There
is only one way in which a person's sincerity can be proved, and that is by
one's practice. Fine words can never replace good deeds. Our character is
revealed in the choices we make, especially when we must choose between what is
true and false, good and evil. Do you cheat on an exam or on your income taxes,
especially when it will cost you? Do you lie, or cover-up, when disclosing the
truth will cause you pain or embarrassment? A true person is honest and
reliable before God, neighbor, and oneself. Such a person's word can be taken
as trustworthy.
Christ
is the only rock that can save us
What can keep us from falsehood and spiritual disaster? If we make the Lord Jesus and his word the rock and foundation of our lives, then nothing can shake us nor keep us from God's presence and protection. Is the Lord Jesus and his word the one sure foundation of your life?
What can keep us from falsehood and spiritual disaster? If we make the Lord Jesus and his word the rock and foundation of our lives, then nothing can shake us nor keep us from God's presence and protection. Is the Lord Jesus and his word the one sure foundation of your life?
"Lord
Jesus, you are the only foundation that can hold us up when trials and disaster
threaten us. Give me the wisdom, foresight, and strength of character I need to
do what is right and good and to reject whatever is false and contrary to your
will. May I be a doer of your word and not a hearer only."
Daily
Quote from the early church fathers: Turn your vision to the Savior, by
Verecundus (died 552 AD)
"When
Hezekiah, the king of Judah and son of Ahaz, was gravely ill and had learned of
his coming death by the prophecy of Isaiah, he turned his face to the wall and
wept bitterly (2 Kings 20:1-3). Immediately the Lord in his mercy not only
averted the destruction of imminent death but also added fifteen years to the
man's life. Then, at last, Hezekiah sang this song (Isaiah 38:10-20). Hezekiah,
a holy man who reigned at that time over all of Israel, displayed the Lord's
form: clearly he had every movement of body, soul and mind in subjection to
himself, and he accepted the consequences of his infirmity and weakness. He
knew without doubt through the prophetic message that the end of his life was
approaching. For the longer we seem to live, the more indubitably is our future
death foreknown to us. And if we turn our face to the wall when struck by the fear
of death, that is, if we direct the vision of our hearts to the Savior, who is
here represented by the wall because he is elsewhere called 'a wall,' we will
be saved, inasmuch as he saves the faithful who dwell within him from a great
many attacks. 'In the city of our strength,' says Isaiah, 'is the Savior
established as a wall and a fortress' (Isaiah 26:1). Behold, the Savior is said
to be a wall." (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON THE CANTICLE OF
EZEKIEL 5.1-2) [Verecundus was an African Christian writer and
bishop in the 6th century AD.]
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5, MATTHEW 7:21, 24-27
Weekday
(Isaiah 26:1-6; Psalm 118
Weekday
(Isaiah 26:1-6; Psalm 118
KEY VERSE: "Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock" (v. 24).
TO KNOW: Jesus concluded his Sermon on the Mount by saying that it was not enough to perform works of healing and miracles yet live contrary to his teachings. The true disciple was one who imitated Jesus' dedication to God's will. Jesus illustrated his teaching with the Palestinian practice of building houses on a rock foundation. The house built on the sand of a ravine was in danger of being swept away by the floods that followed the winter rains. Those who ignored Jesus' words were building upon a superficial footing. Their faith would collapse when trials beset them. Christians who obey Christ's teachings are building on a stable foundation that will withstand the storms of life.
TO LOVE: What can I do to strengthen my spiritual house this Advent?
TO SERVE: Lord Jesus, help me obey your word in your Church.
Thursday 5 December 2019
Isaiah 26:1-6. Psalm 117(118):1, 8-9, 19-21, 25-27. Matthew 7:
21, 24-27.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord – Psalm 117(118):1, 8-9, 19-21, 25-27
‘Let all the peoples praise Him!’
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord – Psalm 117(118):1, 8-9, 19-21, 25-27
‘Let all the peoples praise Him!’
When I read this psalm I heard the song ‘Let all the peoples
praise Him O Lord, Let all the peoples praise Him!’ I wonder have I ever sung
it with the intention of this psalm. Praise! Trust! Thanks! I’m reminded of the
scene at the MCG when a grand final is being played, and the atmosphere of
praise, trust and thanks when the team you support wins! I’ve often wished it
was God they were praising, trusting and thanking with those tens of thousands
of voices. But this psalm tells us it is better to trust in the Lord than to
depend on man. So let us sing for the Victory that is already ours, without
needing to battle it out on the MCG.
Saint Sabas
Saint of the Day for December 5
(439 – December 5, 532)
 |
| Relics of St. Sabbas the Sanctified in the Catholicon (main church) of the Eastern Orthodox Mar Saba monastery in Palestine | photo by adriatikus |
Saint Sabas’ Story
Born in Cappadocia, Sabas is one of the most highly regarded
patriarchs among the monks of Palestine, and is considered one of the founders
of Eastern monasticism.
After an unhappy childhood in which he was abused and ran away
several times, Sabas finally sought refuge in a monastery. While family members
tried to persuade him to return home, the young boy felt drawn to monastic
life. Although the youngest monk in the house, he excelled in virtue.
At age 18 he traveled to Jerusalem, seeking to learn more about
living in solitude. Soon he asked to be accepted as a disciple of a well-known
local solitary, though initially he was regarded as too young to live
completely as a hermit. Initially, Sabas lived in a monastery, where he worked
during the day and spent much of the night in prayer. At the age of 30 he was
given permission to spend five days each week in a nearby remote cave, engaging
in prayer and manual labor in the form of weaving baskets. Following the death
of his mentor, Saint Euthymius, Sabas moved farther into the desert near
Jericho. There he lived for several years in a cave near the brook Cedron. A
rope was his means of access. Wild herbs among the rocks were his food.
Occasionally men brought him other food and items, while he had to go a
distance for his water.
Some of these men came to him desiring to join him in his
solitude. At first he refused. But not long after relenting, his followers
swelled to more than 150, all of them living in individual huts grouped around
a church, called a laura.
The bishop persuaded a reluctant Sabas, then in his early 50s,
to prepare for the priesthood so that he could better serve his monastic
community in leadership. While functioning as abbot among a large community of
monks, he felt ever called to live the life of a hermit. Throughout each
year—consistently in Lent—he left his monks for long periods of time, often to
their distress. A group of 60 men left the monastery, settling at a nearby
ruined facility. When Sabas learned of the difficulties they were facing, he
generously gave them supplies and assisted in the repair of their church.
Over the years Sabas traveled throughout Palestine, preaching
the true faith and successfully bringing back many to the Church. At the age of
91, in response to a plea from the Patriarch of Jerusalem, Sabas undertook a
journey to Constantinople in conjunction with the Samaritan revolt and its
violent repression. He fell ill and soon after his return, died at the
monastery at Mar Saba. Today the monastery is still inhabited by monks of the
Eastern Orthodox Church, and Saint Sabas is regarded as one of the most
noteworthy figures of early monasticism.
Reflection
Few of us share Sabas’ yearning for a cave in the desert, but
most of us sometimes resent the demands others place on our time. Sabas
understands that. When at last he gained the solitude for which he yearned, a
community immediately began to gather around him, and he was forced into a
leadership role. He stands as a model of patient generosity for anyone whose
time and energy are required by others—that is, for all of us.
Lectio Divina: Matthew 7:21,24-27
Lectio Divina
Thursday, December 5, 2019
1st Week of Advent
1) Opening prayer
Lord our God,
to those who trust in You
and live the gospel of Your Son,
You are a dependable rock.
In the storms and tensions of our times,
may our faith never waver,
but give us the courage
to live as we believe,
consistently, radically,
that with Your Son we may do Your will
and live in Your love now and for ever.
to those who trust in You
and live the gospel of Your Son,
You are a dependable rock.
In the storms and tensions of our times,
may our faith never waver,
but give us the courage
to live as we believe,
consistently, radically,
that with Your Son we may do Your will
and live in Your love now and for ever.
2) Gospel Reading - Matthew 7: 21, 24-27
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the
kingdom of Heaven, but only the person who does the will of My Father in
heaven.
Therefore, everyone who listens to these words of Mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on rock. Rain came down, floods rose, gales blew and hurled themselves against that house, and it did not fall: it was founded on rock.
But everyone who listens to these words of Mine and does not act on them will be like an unwise man who built his house on sand. Rain came down, floods rose, gales blew and struck that house, and it fell.”
Therefore, everyone who listens to these words of Mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on rock. Rain came down, floods rose, gales blew and hurled themselves against that house, and it did not fall: it was founded on rock.
But everyone who listens to these words of Mine and does not act on them will be like an unwise man who built his house on sand. Rain came down, floods rose, gales blew and struck that house, and it fell.”
3) Reflection
Today’s Gospel narrates the end of the discourse on the
mountain. The discourse on the mountain is a new reading of the Law of God. It
begins with the Beatitudes (Mt 5: 1-12) and ends with the house built on the
rock.
• It is a question of acquiring true wisdom. The source of wisdom is the Word of God expressed in the Law of God. True Wisdom consists of listening to, and practicing, the Word of God (Lk 11: 28). It is not sufficient to say “Lord, Lord!” The important thing is not to say beautiful words about God, but rather to do the will of the Father, and therefore, to be a revelation of His love and His presence in the world.
• The one who listens to, and practices, the Word constructs a house on rock. The strength of the house does not come from the house itself, but rather from the foundation, from the rock. What does the rock signify? It is the experience of God’s love revealed in Jesus (Rm 8: 31-39). There are some people who practice the Word in order to merit God’s love. But love is not bought, nor do we merit it (sg 8: 7). The love of God is received gratuitously. Let us put into practice the Word, not in order to merit love, but to say thank you for the love we have received. This is the good foundation, the rock which gives security to the house. True security comes from the certainty of God’s love. It is the rock which sustains us in moments of difficulty and in storms.
• The Evangelist ends the discourse on the Mountain (Mt 7: 27-28) by saying that the crowds admired the teaching of Jesus because “He taught with authority, and not like the Scribes”. The teaching of Jesus gave the people a critical awareness concerning religious authority of the time. Admired and grateful, the people appreciated the beautiful and diverse teaching of Jesus.
• It is a question of acquiring true wisdom. The source of wisdom is the Word of God expressed in the Law of God. True Wisdom consists of listening to, and practicing, the Word of God (Lk 11: 28). It is not sufficient to say “Lord, Lord!” The important thing is not to say beautiful words about God, but rather to do the will of the Father, and therefore, to be a revelation of His love and His presence in the world.
• The one who listens to, and practices, the Word constructs a house on rock. The strength of the house does not come from the house itself, but rather from the foundation, from the rock. What does the rock signify? It is the experience of God’s love revealed in Jesus (Rm 8: 31-39). There are some people who practice the Word in order to merit God’s love. But love is not bought, nor do we merit it (sg 8: 7). The love of God is received gratuitously. Let us put into practice the Word, not in order to merit love, but to say thank you for the love we have received. This is the good foundation, the rock which gives security to the house. True security comes from the certainty of God’s love. It is the rock which sustains us in moments of difficulty and in storms.
• The Evangelist ends the discourse on the Mountain (Mt 7: 27-28) by saying that the crowds admired the teaching of Jesus because “He taught with authority, and not like the Scribes”. The teaching of Jesus gave the people a critical awareness concerning religious authority of the time. Admired and grateful, the people appreciated the beautiful and diverse teaching of Jesus.
4) Personal questions
• Am I among those who say “Lord, Lord”, or among those who put
the Word into practice?
• Do I observe the Law in order to merit love and salvation or in order to thank God for His love and His salvation?
• Do I observe the Law in order to merit love and salvation or in order to thank God for His love and His salvation?
5) Concluding Prayer
O Lord, grant salvation!
O Lord, grant prosperity!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord (Ps 118)
O Lord, grant prosperity!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord (Ps 118)
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