Thursday of week 12 in Ordinary Time
Gospel: Matthew 7:21-29In today’s Gospel, Jesus concludes the Sermon on the Mount by teaching that true discipleship is built not merely on words, religious activities, or good intentions, but on a living relationship that leads to doing the will of the Father. He compares the wise person to one who builds a house upon rock. Storms, floods, and winds will come, but the house remains standing because its foundation is secure. The deepest foundation of the Christian life is the personal experience of God’s love. It is this encounter with the Father’s love in Christ that gives meaning to obedience, strength during trials, and perseverance in faith. Without this foundation, faith can become a collection of practices, ideas, or emotions that easily collapse when difficulties arise. But when a person has truly experienced being loved, forgiven, and accepted by God, faith becomes rooted in something unshakable. The storms of life do not disappear, but they no longer have the power to destroy. Jesus teaches with authority because He does not merely give instructions; He invites us into a relationship with the Father that transforms our lives from within. The more our lives are built upon the certainty of God’s love, the stronger and more enduring our faith becomes. Let’s reflect: Is my faith built upon a personal experience of God’s love that leads me to do His will, or is it resting mainly on habits, words, and religious practices that may not withstand the storms of life?
Don Giorgio