Building on the Rock

 The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to confront the distractions and obstacles that may be interfering with our release from the captivity of the world.

The Rock as our Foundation

The Reading from the Second Book of Kings presents the Reign of Jehoiachin

* [24:12] The eighth year of his reign: that is, of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, not Jehoiachin’s. The year was 597 B.C.

* [24:14] People of the land: see note on 11:14. (2 Kings, CHAPTER 24 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 79 is a lament complaining that the nations have defiled the Temple.

* [Psalm 79] A communal lament complaining that the nations have defiled the Temple and murdered the holy people, leaving their corpses unburied (Ps 79:1–4). The occasion is probably the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonian army in 587 B.C. The people ask how long the withdrawal of divine favor will last (Ps 79:5), pray for action now (Ps 79:6–7), and admit that their own sins have brought about the catastrophe (Ps 79:8–9). They seek to persuade God to act for reasons of honor: the nations who do not call upon the Name are running amok (Ps 79:6); the divine honor is compromised (Ps 79:1, 10, 12); God’s own servants suffer (Ps 79:2–4, 11). (Psalms, PSALM 79 | USCCB, n.d.)

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus identifies the True Disciple and our choice between The Two Foundations.

* [7:15–20] Christian disciples who claimed to speak in the name of God are called prophets (Mt 7:15) in Mt 10:41; Mt 23:34. They were presumably an important group within the church of Matthew. As in the case of the Old Testament prophets, there were both true and false ones, and for Matthew the difference could be recognized by the quality of their deeds, the fruits (Mt 7:16). The mention of fruits leads to the comparison with trees, some producing good fruit, others bad.

* [7:21–23] The attack on the false prophets is continued, but is broadened to include those disciples who perform works of healing and exorcism in the name of Jesus (Lord) but live evil lives. Entrance into the kingdom is only for those who do the will of the Father. On the day of judgment (on that day) the morally corrupt prophets and miracle workers will be rejected by Jesus.

* [7:23] I never knew you: cf. Mt 10:33. Depart from me, you evildoers: cf. Ps 6:9.

* [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).

* [7:28–29] When Jesus finished these words: this or a similar formula is used by Matthew to conclude each of the five great discourses of Jesus (cf. Mt 11:1; 13:53; 19:1; 26:1). (Matthew, CHAPTER 7 | USCCB, n.d.)

Rev. George Meze, SJ, comments that today’s Gospel reminds us that love is shown through our actions. Obeying God’s Will is like building a house on solid rock.

The good news is that God never gives up on us. St. Ignatius noted that God’s help always remains available even if we do not perceive it clearly. He goes on to add that even in deep desolations, God still provides sufficient grace for our salvation. We know that God’s grace of repentance is always available despite our infinite folly. His will for us is to return to Him without measure.

Repentance is God’s infinite love, through which we can always begin. This, to me, is the priceless treasure that God provides without measure to help us do His Will. It is from this gift of repentance that we find the strength to do His will more and more each day. (Meze, 2026)

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) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Matthew 7:21-29 comments that for the past three chapters of his Gospel, Matthew has been giving us Jesus’ words in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7): Be poor in spirit. Hunger and thirst for righteousness. Stop judging. Turn the other cheek. Treat everyone as you want to be treated. Pray, fast, and give alms—but do it in secret. Seek first the kingdom of God.

Consider taking time today to slowly read over these words of Jesus a few times. As you do, see if the Holy Spirit highlights a verse or two that seems to speak directly to you.

If something sticks out, sit with it for a few moments. Is there something that God is asking you to focus on? Is there some action he is asking you to take? Some sin to confess? Some change he wants you to make? Write down whatever comes to mind and see how you can live it out more fully. Know that as you do, you’ll be taking that next step of building on the solid, reliable foundation of Jesus’ words.

“Lord, help me to build my life on you alone!” (Meditation on Matthew 7:21-29, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments that in 2 Kings the defeat of King Jehoiakim by the Babylonians  and the nobles deported to Babylon in 597 BCE is the first exile. Zedekiah ruled until 587 BCE and the second exile continued until 539 BCE and Cyrus the Great freed the Jews in 538 BC primarily as a strategic political maneuver to ensure loyalty across his newly conquered territories. In the first exile, Ezekiel is taken and he becomes a prophet outside of Israel raising questions about a true prophet existing outside of Israel. Everyone who proclaims “Lord, Lord” as a superficial act of worship is going through the motions but our faith must be totally grounded. Friar Jude notes the faithful will stand firm in difficult situations and reject the feeling of failure in an attitude of surrender to the Lord.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces organizer and activist Mariame Kaba who reflects on hope as a discipline. Kaba describes how short-term thinking prevents us from accessing hope.

I take a long view, understanding full well that I’m just a tiny, little part of a story that already has a huge antecedent and has something that is going to come after that. I’m definitely not going to be even close to around for seeing the end of it. That also puts me in the right frame of mind: that … [what] I’m doing is actually pretty insignificant in world history, but if it’s significant to one or two people, I feel good about that….

I talk to a lot of young organizers.… I’m always telling them—“Your timeline is not the timeline on which movements occur. Your timeline is incidental. Your timeline is only for yourself to mark your growth and your living.” But that’s a fraction of the living that’s going to be done by the universe and that has already been done by the universe. When you understand that you’re really insignificant in the grand scheme of things, then it’s a freedom, in my opinion, to actually be able to do the work that’s necessary as you see it and to contribute in the ways that you see fit. (Rohr, n.d.)

We implore the Spirit to enlighten our contemplation of Jesus instruction in the Sermon on the Mount and inspire our faith and hope to act as disciples of Christ in our environment. 

References

Matthew, CHAPTER 7 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved June 25, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/7? 

Meditation on Matthew 7:21-29. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved June 25, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/06/25/1600045/ 

Meze, G. (2026, June 25). Daily Reflection June 25, 2026 | Creighton Online Ministries. Creighton Online Ministries. Retrieved June 25, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-june-25-2026 

Psalms, PSALM 79 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings, Audio and Video Every Morning | USCCB. Retrieved June 25, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/79?1 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Hope Is a Discipline. CAC.org. Retrieved June 25, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/hope-is-a-discipline/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). The Wise Who Built Their House upon the Rock. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved June 25, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/ 

2 Kings, CHAPTER 24 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved June 25, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/2kings/24? 

Wants and Will

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to discern the difference between action we want to take and what response may be more in accord with the Will of God.

Build on the Firm Foundation

The reading from the Book of Genesis describes the Birth of Ishmael.

* [16:1–16] In the previous chapter Abraham was given a timetable of possession of the land, but nothing was said about when the child was to be born. In this chapter, Sarah takes matters into her own hands, for she has been childless ten years since the promise (cf. 12:4 with 16:16). The story is about the two women, Sarah the infertile mistress and Hagar the fertile slave; Abraham has only a single sentence. In the course of the story, God intervenes directly on the side of Hagar, for she is otherwise without resources.

* [16:2] The custom of an infertile wife providing her husband with a concubine to produce children is widely attested in ancient Near Eastern law; e.g., an Old Assyrian marriage contract states that the wife must provide her husband with a concubine if she does not bear children within two years.

* [16:4] Because barrenness was at that time normally blamed on the woman and regarded as a disgrace, it is not surprising that Hagar looks down on Sarah. Ancient Near Eastern legal practice addresses such cases of insolent slaves and allows disciplining of them. Prv 30:23 uses as an example of intolerable behavior “a maidservant when she ousts her mistress.”

* [16:7] The LORD’s angel: a manifestation of God in human form; in v. 13 the messenger is identified with God. See note on Ex 3:2.

* [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.

* [16:12] Alongside: lit., “against the face of”; the same phrase is used of the lands of Ishmael’s descendants in 25:18. It can be translated “in opposition to” (Dt 21:16; Jb 1:11; 6:28; 21:31), but here more likely means that Ishmael’s settlement was near but not in the promised land. (Genesis, CHAPTER 16 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 106 declares we can always count on God’s fidelity despite our sin.

* [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). (Psalms, PSALM 106 | USCCB, n.d.) (Psalms, PSALM 106 | USCCB, n.d.)

The Gospel of Matthew proclaims The True Disciple and The Two Foundations.

* [7:15–20] Christian disciples who claimed to speak in the name of God are called prophets (Mt 7:15) in Mt 10:41; Mt 23:34. They were presumably an important group within the church of Matthew. As in the case of the Old Testament prophets, there were both true and false ones, and for Matthew the difference could be recognized by the quality of their deeds, the fruits (Mt 7:16). The mention of fruits leads to the comparison with trees, some producing good fruit, others bad.

* [7:21–23] The attack on the false prophets is continued, but is broadened to include those disciples who perform works of healing and exorcism in the name of Jesus (Lord) but live evil lives. Entrance into the kingdom is only for those who do the will of the Father. On the day of judgment (on that day) the morally corrupt prophets and miracle workers will be rejected by Jesus.

* [7:23] I never knew you: cf. Mt 10:33. Depart from me, you evildoers: cf. Ps 6:9.

* [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).

* [7:28–29] When Jesus finished these words: this or a similar formula is used by Matthew to conclude each of the five great discourses of Jesus (cf. Mt 11:1; 13:53; 19:1; 26:1).

* [7:29] Not as their scribes: scribal instruction was a faithful handing down of the traditions of earlier teachers; Jesus’ teaching is based on his own authority. Their scribes: for the implications of their, see note on Mt 4:23. (Matthew, CHAPTER 7 | USCCB, n.d.)

Amy Turbes asks "How often do we stop and ask “Jesus, what do you want of me?”

When I pray to be or do or say what God needs of me, it is not for me. I am not ask­ing for a reward; I am try­ing to put myself aside and lis­ten to what God wants of me. In those moments, there is no decep­tion, there is free­dom. I know myself as clear­ly as God knows me. Those moments are often short and some­times not mem­o­rable, but they come again and again, and the time in between them is short­er and short­er.  When God’s will and my will are the same.

God, thank you for the abil­i­ty to be what you need me to be, when I remem­ber to ask. (Turbes, n.d.)

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) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Genesis 16:1-12, 15-16 asks “Isn’t it tempting at times to do as Sarai did and take matters into our own hands?”

So if you’re still waiting on the Lord, guard your heart! Don’t let bitterness or resentment take over. Instead, keep drawing close to him and ask for his help. Let him reassure you that his timing and plan for your life are perfect, just as he is! As you hold fast to his goodness and faithfulness, he will strengthen your faith and help you find peace. He will give you the grace you need to trust him, even while you’re waiting.

“Faithful Lord, I trust in you!” (Meditation on Genesis 16:1-12, 15-16, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments on the response of Sarai in the Genesis passage to God’s promise of  many children. Abraham had a child with Haggi, a tradition in the middle east around 1900 BCE, but no longer in Israel at the time of Abram. Hagar’s son does not fulfill the inheritance promised to Abraham, but Ishmael is identified as the father of the Arab people. The Gospel declares it is not enough to say the right words, we must be authentic, take up our crosses and live with Jesus as people of faith. In the hard times we need to hold on in trust and love to the promise of Jesus. Matthew parallels the Pentateuch by presenting teaching in five major groups, beginning with the Sermon on the Mount. Friar Jude notes teaching filled with life and the sense of truth absent from the teaching of the Pharisees.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis who considers how individual decisions create collective change. Father Richard points to the value of faithfulness to the common good.

What’s the great principle of Catholic moral theology? The common good. What is needed for the common good, and not just my private good? That’s a very hard question for Western people to ask. In fact, many of us don’t even know it’s a question anymore.  

In our postmodern, secular culture, it can feel old-fashioned to be faithful to something. Sometimes people thank me for staying in community and faith, which feels like the best compliment. That doesn’t mean that I’ve done it perfectly all these years—I went down my dead ends. But faithfulness is being faithful to God, faithful to Christ, and faithful to the gospel that is calling all of us beyond ourselves.  

So be faithful! Go to the edge, find the beloved community, build the alternative, the parallel culture, in small communities. Václav Havel, the poet-president of the Czech Republic, is a good example. He was already building an alternative culture before the Berlin Wall fell. Through literature, study, poetry, ritual, and education, he helped create people who had a bigger vision and who thought in another way. When the system fell apart, they were ready to live with positive belief—not only clear about what they were against, but what they were for. [1] (Rohr, n.d.)

Lewis concludes:  

I can see a bold new path led by a vision of the sacred goodness of humankind and the abundance of the planet’s resources…. You and I are the ones we’ve been waiting for to create better lives for ourselves and our communities and to build a better world—together. All we need is the courage to imagine, and the will to make it be so. (Rohr, n.d.)

We implore the guidance of the Spirit that we make decisions for the direction of our lives that will be in harmony with the Will of God.

References

Genesis, CHAPTER 16 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved June 26, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/genesis/16?1 

Matthew, CHAPTER 7 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved June 26, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/7?21 

Meditation on Genesis 16:1-12, 15-16. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved June 26, 2025, from https://wau.org/meditations/2025/06/26/1315017/ 

Psalms, PSALM 106 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved June 26, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/106 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). A Collective Impact. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved June 26, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/a-collective-impact/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). The Wise Who Built Their House upon the Rock. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved June 26, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2025&date=jun26 

Turbes, A. (n.d.). Daily Reflection June 26, 2025. Creighton Online Ministries: Home. Retrieved June 26, 2025, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-june-26-2025