The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today resonate with our experience of trust in the Lord that supports our action as disciples of Christ.
Living the Word
The reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah proclaims Judah’s song of victory.
* [26:1] Strong city: Jerusalem, the antithesis of the “city of chaos” (24:10); see note on 24:1–27:13.1
Psalm 118 is a song of victory.
* [Psalm 118] A thanksgiving liturgy accompanying a procession of the king and the people into the Temple precincts. After an invocation in the form of a litany (Ps 118:1–4), the psalmist (very likely speaking in the name of the community) describes how the people confidently implored God’s help (Ps 118:5–9) when hostile peoples threatened its life (Ps 118:10–14); vividly God’s rescue is recounted (Ps 118:15–18). Then follows a possible dialogue at the Temple gates between the priests and the psalmist as the latter enters to offer the thanksgiving sacrifice (Ps 118:19–25). Finally, the priests impart their blessing (Ps 118:26–27), and the psalmist sings in gratitude (Ps 118:28–29).2
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus warns us concerning self-deception and connects hearers and doers of the Word.
* [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
Eileen Wirth recalls that her parents built their house on the “rock” of consistent decency.
During World War II, my mother went out of her way to room with a Japanese American student when hostility against them ran wild. During the 1950’s, my folks sponsored two families of Polish displaced persons, among other good deeds. No one is perfect but my folks modeled the behavior they demanded from their six children. And that’s the lesson of today’s Gospel. Jesus demands consistency between what we believe and how we live. This can be tough but it’s the foundation for a “houses built on rock.”4
Don Schwager quotes “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)5
The Word Among Us Meditation on Matthew 7:21, 24-27 comments that If we are like the wise man in the parable, we will build our lives on the “rock” of Jesus (Matthew 7:24-25). And that will give us the strength and inner peace to withstand the storms of life.
When we become Jesus’ eyes to notice the shy new student, we extend our ability to see Christ in every person. When we become his ears and listen to the coworker with a problem, we learn that “the Lord is close to the brokenhearted” (Psalm 34:19). When we become his mouth by sharing conversation with a lonely neighbor or when we become his hands to make a meal for a sick friend, we strengthen not just our relationships with the people around us but with God as well. And in each instance, our foundation in Christ becomes more and more solid.6
Friar Jude Winkler comments on the universal and apocalyptic themes of Isaiah. Matthew’s Gospel, authored by a converted Pharisee expresses the Kingdom of G_d as the Kingdom of Heaven. Friar Jude reminds us of Advent preparation of slowing down, prayer, and fasting.
Franciscan Media comments on Saint of the Day, Saint Francis Xavier, that wherever he went, Xavier lived with the poorest people, sharing their food and rough accommodations. He spent countless hours ministering to the sick and the poor, particularly to lepers. Very often he had no time to sleep or even to say his breviary but, as we know from his letters, he was always filled with joy.
All of us are called to “go and preach to all nations—see Matthew 28:19. Our preaching is not necessarily on distant shores but to our families, our children, our husband or wife, our coworkers. And we are called to preach not with words, but by our everyday lives. Only by sacrifice, the giving up of all selfish gain, could Francis Xavier be free to bear the Good News to the world. Sacrifice is leaving yourself behind at times for a greater good, the good of prayer, the good of helping someone in need, the good of just listening to another. The greatest gift we have is our time. Francis Xavier gave his to others.7
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, notes that in the 1960s, the farmworkers in the western United States, under the leadership of César Chávez (1927‒1993), were organizing for better pay and working conditions. The movement was informed and strengthened by Chávez’s authentic Catholic faith. The following prayer is César Chávez’s “Prayer of the Farm Worker’s Struggle,” which shows how devotion to God combined with action in the movement.
Show me the suffering of the most miserable;
So I will know my people’s plight.
Free me to pray for others;
For you are present in every person.
Help me take responsibility for my own life;
So that I can be free at last.
Grant me courage to serve others;
For in service there is true life.
Give me honesty and patience;
So that I can work with other workers.
Bring forth song and celebration;
So that the Spirit will be alive among us.
Let the Spirit flourish and grow;
So that we will never tire of the struggle.
Let us remember those who have died for justice;
For they have given us life.
Help us love even those who hate us;
So we can change the world.Amen. [3]8
We are grateful for Jesus' advice to to act on the Word we hear on our journey.
References
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