Tag: house built on rock

“Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.” | Saturday of the First Week of Advent

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 9:35–10:1, 5a, 6-8)

Jesus sent out these Twelve after instructing them thus, “Go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.”

To receive without cost is easy; to give without cost, much less so. As Matthew illustrates, Jesus excludes no one in going around all the towns and villages teaching in synagogues, proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom, and curing every disease and illness. His love is unconditional, without cost. Then, turning to the disciples, he tells them to do the same—to give without cost. “The Kingdom of heaven is at hand,” he tells them. And he instructs them on their mission: “cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.” For all human limitations and weaknesses, how is this possible? With a word and through his example, Jesus makes it possible, giving them authority to do all of these things—without cost, a gift to be given to others.

God, when I hear the words “without cost you are to give” I feel unable to live up to that command. Yet, with it comes the trust necessary to be obedient. In the first reading from Isaiah, you show how tenderly you care for your people, giving them an abundance of gifts, caring for daily needs and binding up wounds. “While from behind, a voice shall sound in your ears: ‘This is the way; walk in it,’ when you would turn to the right or to the left.” Lord, give me the bread that I need and the water for which I thirst.

From the responsorial psalm: “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. He tells the number of the stars; he calls each by name. Blessed are all who wait for the Lord.” Lord, teach me to entrust to you my needs.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Lk 1:26-38)

And coming to the virgin Mary, the angel Gabriel said, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.” But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus.”

Mary responds in at least three ways when the angel Gabriel comes to her. She is troubled that he should say she is full of grace and that the Lord is with her. Next, she asks Gabriel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” And before he suddenly departs, she says, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” The three responses offer insights into the spiritual life of Mary. First, she showed humility in her response to being called full of grace, that the Lord was with her. There is also her ability to dwell on and discern how God works in her and through her. Second, she questions how she will conceive, eliminating human intervention and allowing Gabriel to tell her how this will happen: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.” Finally, without a moment to process what any of this means, she says yes to God. Mary shows us the way to humility, reason and discernment in understanding God’s will, and cooperation with his grace. Above all, as the Mother of God she shows us the way to her Son.

God, in Mary’s encounter with the angel, I see a kind of clarity in Mary’s communication with him that I am likely never to experience in my life. Yet, because Mary was conceived without original sin, she had no inclination toward it that would obstruct her view of your will. In perfect clarity, Gabriel communicated her role in salvation history, and in a state of perfect grace, Mary said yes to your holy will. Lord, give me the grace to remove the barriers that prevent me from hearing you and knowing your will. Once understanding it, help me follow through in cooperating with every good gift of yours that is meant to be shared.

From the Gospel acclamation: “Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women.” Blessed Virgin Mary, pray for us!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

The house set solidly on rock. | Memorial of Saint Ambrose, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 7:21, 24-27)

Jesus said to his disciples: “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.”

Jesus calls his disciples to listen to his words and then act on them, to be still and attentive and respond in action to the will of God. Our temporary dwelling on earth is subject to many assaults on the body and soul. Jesus guides us as disciples in withstanding the trials, the storms, and the struggles. To the fool, Jesus says, hearing his word and not acting on it results in devastation: “The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. And it collapsed and was completely ruined.” Holding fast to Christ, secured by hearing and acting on his will, the darkest storms pass.

God, here you are before me. Every need I have, you are already aware of and are acting to satisfy it. The unrelenting anxiety of moving through tasks ahead of me today and the next day and the next day would have me believe that you are somehow beyond them if I can just get past them. Help me remember what I now know, quieted by invitation to hear and do your will: you are in the midst of everyday anxieties, in the eye of the storm. Give me the grace to recall your presence during times I would otherwise forget, not out of sheer mental triumph, but to give you glory and come to enter your kingdom.

From the responsorial psalm: “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever. It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” Lord, let me take refuge in you today. Saint Ambrose, pray for us!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.