Standing on the Rock of faith

Reflection on Today's Readings, Tuesday of 15th Week in Ordinary Time Year II, 14th July, 2020
Texts: Is. 7:1-9; Ps. 48:2-8; Matt. 11:20-24
There is something implicit in today's first reading but revealed in the Psalm: the head of Judah is Jerusalem and the head of Jerusalem is God. The psalmist puts it thus: "Mount Sion, in the heart of the North, the city of the Mighty King! God, in the midst of its citadels". In the first reading, Isaiah mentioned the heads of the nations who were against Jerusalem but did not mention that of Jerusalem because he was speaking with those who already knew that God was the head of Jerusalem. He was reminding king Ahaz that while other nations had humans as their kings, Jerusalem had God as its King and support. Hence,  about their evil plan against Jerusalem, Isaiah said, "It shall not stand, and it shall not come to pass". He added thus: "If you will not believe, surely you shall not be established".
The message the first reading has for us is that we should look at our problem against God, not against ourselves. King Ahaz and his people looked at their problem against themselves and their hearts shook as the trees of forest shake before the wind. Our eyes should always be fixed on God. God is bigger than our problems and is always on our side. If we believe and keep his words, then we will be established.
Jesus Christ, in the gospel, condemned the peoples of Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum for their lack of faith and so they will not stand on the day of judgment.
Today's Readings call us to stand on the rock of faith so that we will be saved in the day of trouble and the day of judgment.

Lord our God, strengthen our faith that we may stand in the day of trouble and when the judgment day comes. Amen.

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke