My Faith is built on the solid rock

Ish 26:1-6, Mt. 7:21.24-27. Today’s first reading presents a thought-provoking contrast to what we have in today's Gospel. In the first reading, God is said to build our city, setting up its walls and ramparts to protect it; while in the Gospel we build our own house solidly by the grace of God, setting it on a rock. The prophetic text emphasises faith while the Gospel stresses action. Thus, the prophet Isaiah harmonises these divergent views saying: “Our Lord is an eternal rock.” Danger can come to our spiritual edifice, when we refuse to take God as our eternal rock. Many people begin with a strong foundation of love of God and His Word, but as their life moves on, they get distracted from God, offer merely lip-service to Him, buy into cheaper materials of the world and go on building up their edifice on those convenient and world-friendly resources. When trials and tragedies strike, their edifice crumbles and the foundation becomes a stumbling block for them (Cf. 1 Pet. 2:7-8). 

The Lord surrounds us who have faith as He surrounds the holy city with “walls and ramparts. The Lord Himself is that city. He is the rock which sustains us. He is the Holy One, enshrined within us. The Lord is behind and before us, around and within us, supporting us from beneath and glorifying us from above. Jesus warns us that we will at some time face the storms of life, He will help us to survive them. We are challenged today, never to be tossed around helplessly, but to hold firm to withstand storm and move through and beyond it. Jesus wants to be our rock when the storm comes. If we listen to His Words and try to act on them we will remain firm even when storms break around us.

May the Word of God be the foundation, the walls and the roof of our spiritual life and may the Lord be above, beneath, before, behind and around us! Amen!! Good morning and have a great day!!!