Acting on the Word

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today underline the wholeness of choosing to live in accord with the Word.

On the Way

The Reading from Genesis is a description of the events leading up to the Birth of Ishmael.

* [16:11] Ishmael: in Hebrew the name means “God has heard.” It is the same Hebrew verb that is translated “heeded” in the next clause. In other ancient Near Eastern texts, the name commemorated the divine answer to the parents’ prayer to have a child, but here it is broadened to mean that God has “heard” Hagar’s plight. In vv. 13–14, the verb “to see” is similarly broadened to describe God’s special care for those in need.1 

In Psalm 106 Israel is invited to praise the God whose mercy has always tempered judgment of Israel.

* [Psalm 106] Israel is invited to praise the God whose mercy has always tempered judgment of Israel (Ps 106:1–3). The speaker, on behalf of all, seeks solidarity with the people, who can always count on God’s fidelity despite their sin (Ps 106:4–5).2 

The Gospel from Matthew describes the actions of a true disciple and the wisdom in building our lives on one of two foundations.

* [7:24–27] The conclusion of the discourse (cf. Lk 6:47–49). Here the relation is not between saying and doing as in Mt 7:15–23 but between hearing and doing, and the words of Jesus are applied to every Christian (everyone who listens).3 

Larry Hopp concludes we are required to carefully and faithfully “listen” to Jesus’ commands and “ACT” upon them.

This requires work and diligence in studying God’s Word and constantly praying for His will to unfold in our lives.  The story of the consequences of building our house upon a rock versus building it upon shifting sand seems so obvious.  Yet Jesus used this simple story to remind us how easy it is for us all to try to do things our way (shifting sand) instead of trusting in the unshakable foundation of God’s amazing plan for each of our lives.4 

Don Schwager quotes “ The house falls if Christ is not the rock and foundation,” by Origen of Alexandria (185-254 AD).

"'For neither death nor life nor angels nor other things can separate us from the love of Christ' (Romans 8:38-39). Neither can the flooding of rivers, as in the lands of Egypt and Assyria [symbolize worldly wisdom opposed to God], do harm. Only those are harmed who build on sand, who practice the wisdom of the world. The winds that blow are like the false prophets. All these, coming together in one place, 'beat upon' the house. If it is founded on rock, they do no harm. 'The way of a snake upon a rock' is not to be found (Proverbs 30:19). But in the form of temptations and persecutions, which may mount into a flood, they beat upon even the one who seems to be well-founded. The house falls if it does not have Christ as its basis and foundation. But the truly wise person builds one's house 'upon a rock.' This is the way the Lord builds his church - upon the rock, with steadfastness and strength. This is why 'the gates of hell shall not prevail against it' (Matthew 16:18). All the persecutions that fall upon that house accomplish nothing. The house is founded upon the rock. (excerpt from FRAGMENT 153)5 

The Word Among Us Meditation on Matthew 7:21-29 comments that in today’s Gospel reading, Jesus makes it clear that name-dropping doesn’t work with him. He wants to have a real, living relationship with us. He doesn’t want us to settle for a passing acquaintance. He wants us to know him personally, just as he knows us.

What does it mean to know Jesus personally? How does anyone go about building a relationship with the eternal Son of God? It may sound awfully complicated, but it really isn’t. It’s pretty much the same way you build a relationship with anyone else. You spend time with him; you talk to him; you listen to him; you learn to trust him; you share secrets with him; you let him see you at your best and at your worst.6 

A post by Franciscan Media on Cyril of Alexandria, Saint of the Day for June 27, is a reflection on the less admirable qualities that also appear in the lives of saints.

Holiness is a gift of God to us as human beings. Life is a process. We respond to God’s gift, but sometimes with a lot of zigzagging. If Cyril had been more patient and diplomatic, the Nestorian church might not have risen and maintained power so long. But even saints must grow out of immaturity, narrowness, and selfishness. It is because they—and we—do grow, that we are truly saints, persons who live the life of God.7 

Friar Jude Winkler traces the very old story of Abraham to 1800 BCE. The conclusion of the Sermon on the Mount exhorts us to toss our life and love into God’s hands. Friar Jude observes that words are not enough for whole life.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, presents Brie Stoner who shares her experience in the Living School as a mother of young children. During one of James Finley’s sessions she declared how much harder all of this is when she is back home caring for children.

Jim said, “Ok, you be you and I’ll be God. And since I’m God, I’m watching you get up exhausted every morning, and I’m so touched that you want to spend this time with me. Really, I am! It just means the world to me. The thing is, I just can’t bear how much I love you. It’s too much! And so at a certain point I rush into the bodies of your children and wake them up because. . . .”
Jim paused. “Because I want to know what it feels like to be held by you8 

The theme of children in the texts today underlines how we are in contact with the Divine when we build our day on loving and serving them.

References

1	(n.d.). Genesis, chapter 16 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved June 27, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/genesis/16
2	(n.d.). Psalms, chapter 106 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved June 27, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/psalms/106
3	(n.d.). Matthew, chapter 7 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved June 27, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/matthew/7
4	(n.d.). Creighton U Daily Reflections - OnlineMinistries - Creighton University. Retrieved June 27, 2019, from http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
5	(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved June 27, 2019, from https://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/
6	(n.d.). Meditations - The Word Among Us. Retrieved June 27, 2019, from https://wau.org/meditations/2019/06/27/
7	(n.d.). Saint Cyril of Alexandria - Franciscan Media. Retrieved June 27, 2019, from https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-cyril-of-alexandria/
8	(2019, June 27). God Interrupting — Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved June 27, 2019, from https://cac.org/god-interrupting-2019-06-27/