Reflection on Today's Readings, 12th Week in Ordinary Time Year II, Thursday 25th June, 2020
Texts: 2Kgs. 24:8-17; Ps. 79:1-5,8,9; Mtt. 7:21-29
Building one's life on the word of God is not one of those things for Christians, but the main thing. Calling Jesus Christ Lord, without influence of his words on our lives, is paying a lip service to him; working miracle or driving out evil spirit in the name of Jesus is just being an instrument for salvation of others; they are not sure ways to heaven. Hence, in today's gospel, Jesus Christ said, "Not every one who says to me, ' Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who do the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and cast out demons in your name, and do mighty works in your name?' And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you evildoers." Miracle, exorcism and prophesying, without holiness is in vain.
Building one's life on the word of God is working for one's own salvation and it is the sure way to heaven.
When we build our lives on the word of God, we will have peace and joy of heart. Though temptations will come, trials will assail us, we will not fall because we hold firmly to the word of God, waiting for him to fulfill his promise to save and deliver his own. Jesus Christ puts it thus: "Every one then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house upon a rock; and the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon the house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock".
The first reading shows what happens to those who do not build their lives on God's word. When the king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar, rose against the people of Judah and besieged Jerusalem, they gave up themselves to King Nebuchadnezzar and he took their noblemen into exile. It is the example of real life-situation of what Jesus Christ meant when he said, "And every one who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house upon the sand; and the rain fell, and the floods came, and winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell; and great was the fall". Indeed, great was the fall of Jerusalem, it was never the same again! Judah suffered a grievious blow.
Dear friends, let us be wise by building our lives on the words of Jesus Christ. We build our lives on God's words when we read it, listen to it, meditate on it and act according to it.
Lord Jesus Christ, may your words be the joy of our hearts and our delight every day. Amen.
Fr. Andrew Olowomuke
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