Contemplating today's Gospel
Today's Gospel + homily (in 300 words)
And he carried off all the treasures of the temple of the Lord and those of the palace, and broke up all the gold utensils that Solomon, king of Israel, had provided in the temple of the Lord, as the Lord had foretold. He deported all Jerusalem: all the officers and men of the army, ten thousand in number, and all the craftsmen and smiths. None were left among the people of the land except the poor. He deported Jehoiachin to Babylon, and also led captive from Jerusalem to Babylon the king's mother and wives, his functionaries, and the chief men of the land. The king of Babylon also led captive to Babylon all seven thousand men of the army, and a thousand craftsmen and smiths, all of them trained soldiers. In place of Jehoiachin, the king of Babylon appointed his uncle Mattaniah king, and changed his name to Zedekiah.
They have poured out their blood like water round about Jerusalem, and there is no one to bury them. We have become the reproach of our neighbors, the scorn and derision of those around us. O Lord, how long? Will you be angry forever? Will your jealousy burn like fire?
Remember not against us the iniquities of the past; may your compassion quickly come to us, for we are brought very low.
Help us, o God our savior, because of the glory of your name; deliver us and pardon our sins for your name’s sake.
“Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock. And everyone who listens to these words of mine but does not act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. And it collapsed and was completely ruined.”
When Jesus finished these words, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the Kingdom of heaven”
Fr. Joan Pere PULIDO i Gutiérrez (Sant Feliu de Llobregat, Spain)Today we are struck by Jesus' resolute statement: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven" (Mt 7:21). At the very least, this statement demands responsibility from us as Christians, while also urging us to bear good witness to our faith.
Building the house on rock is a clear image that invites us to value our commitment to faith, which cannot be limited to beautiful words alone but must be based on the authority of deeds, imbued with charity. In June, the Church commemorates the life of Saint Pelagius, a martyr of chastity in the prime of his youth. Saint Bernard, recalling Pelagius’ life, says in his treatise on the customs and ministry of bishops: "Chastity, however beautiful it may be, has no value or merit without charity. Chastity without charity is like a lamp without oil; but wisdom says: How beautiful is wisdom with love! With that love of which the Apostle speaks: which comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and sincere faith."
The clear word, with the strength of charity, manifests Jesus' authority, which amazed His fellow citizens: "The crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes" (Mt 7:28-29). Our prayer and contemplation today should be accompanied by serious reflection: How do I speak and behave in my Christian life? How do I concretize my testimony? How do I embody the commandment of love in my personal, family, and work life? It is not words or prayers without commitment that count, but the effort to live according to God's Plan. Our prayer should always express our desire to do good and ask for help, recognizing our weakness.
-Lord, may our prayer always be accompanied by the strength of charity.
Thoughts on Today's Gospel
“Do not build towers without a foundation, for our Lord does not care so much for the importance of our works as for the love with which they are done.” (Saint Teresa of Jesus).
“Sacred history provides many examples of saints who built their lives on the word of God. Being built up in Jesus Christ means responding positively to God’s call, trusting in him and putting his word into practice.” (Benedict XVI)
“Besides its precepts the New Law includes the evangelical counsels. ‘The Church's holiness is fostered in a special way by the manifold counsels which the Lord proposes to his disciples in the Gospel.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, Nº 1986)
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December 15th
Third Sunday of Advent (C)
Gospel and commentary video
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