Good morning good people may the Lord bless you with grace, peace, and health in the Holy Spirit.
It is 02nd December 2021.
We reflect on Isaiah 26:1-6 and Matthew 7:21, 24-27.
At the very outset, would like to wish you all a happy National day in UAE. As we celebrate the Year of the 50th Golden Jubilee, let us thank the Lord and pray for its leaders and people to respect and uphold human dignity at all levels and love for all humanity.
A curious and highly critical reporter asked a sister, “what do you and your sisters in the community say to God when you gather together for prayer?” She replied, “we say nothing. We just listen” “Oh!” The reporter sighed. “What does God say to you then?” And the sister, with a twinkle in her eyes, replied, “Nothing. God just listens.”
Both readings highlight the requirement for entry. The First speaks about the moral requirement for entering the strong city while the Gospel demands the spiritual requirement in doing the will of God for entering the Kingdom. Even though people of Israel returned from the past painful situations, the nostalgia lingered in their hearts. Having given the choice between the strong and secured city, Jerusalem and the doomed and loft city, Babylon, though it is a language of apocalyptic and eschatological.
We heard from the conclusion of the Sermon on the Mount. As Jesus continued his attack on false prophets, He warned those who did miracle works in the name of Him and lived an immoral life. Morally corrupt and miracle workers, who live evil lives will be rejected by Jesus. We all hear umpteen times that we need to do the will of God. So, what is the will of God then? We are all given the option between human and divine voices to listen and adhere to. We have the freedom to build our lives on the unshakable foundation laid by the Lord or to build on the sand that changes its type, terrane, and texture. Even though we enjoy the freedom of choice, we are left with the choice to build either on rock or in the sand.
Unless we listen, we cannot live the Word of God. Franz Kafka, a German novelist said once, “You do not need to leave your room. Remain sitting at your table and listen. Listen, simply wait, be quiet, still and solitary. The world will freely offer itself to you to be unmasked, it has no choice, it will roll in ecstasy at your feet.”
May the Lord bless our efforts in listening to Him in building our lives on the rock, God Himself.