Gospel reading: Mt 7:21, 24-27
Jesus said to his disciples: “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.
“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.”
Reflection
EVERYONE WHO LISTENS… AND ACTS
The Gospel is a very good reminder for those of us who think that prayer is simply talking to God. Prayer is also listening to God who, in talking to us, may be making his will known to us so that we can carry it out.
Yes, for even mere listening is not enough. Listening should lead to action, to carrying out what we hear from God.
Indeed, we may feel “close” to God and, therefore, also feel “sure” of our standing before him because we kneel before God often or call upon him frequently and recite so many prayers. But we have to realize that before God what is more important is that we listen and then put into practice what God tells us.
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SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord,” ST PAULS, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 895-9701; Fax 895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.