Reflection on Today's Readings, Thursday of 1st Week of Advent, Year C, December 2nd, 2021
Texts: Isaiah 26:1-6; Ps. 118: 1.8-9.19-21.25-27; Matthew 7:21.24-27
Jesus Christ, in today's gospel reading, tells us how to be established as Christians. Not all who bear the name Christian are genuine. They are not genuine because they are not established in the faith. Only those who are established in the faith can stand the challenge of time as we await the coming of our Saviour. We participate in the Kingdom of heaven by doing the will of God as we await the kingdom. This tells us that we are to do the will of God as we wait for Christ's coming. Only those who wait for Him by doing the will of God will reign with Him. Not all of us who claim to await Christ are actually doing so, only those who do the will of God await Him. I may now judge whether I am truly waiting for Christ or not. You may also judge whether you are truly waiting for Him or not. Let individual be sincere with themselves and tell themselves the truth.
We do the will of God by keeping the words of Christ. It is by keeping His words that we are established. Jesus tells us that His word is a sure foundation upon which we are to build our lives. He 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 the rock; and the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock." The word of Jesus is truly a sure foundation because it gives hope, faith and inspire love. The word enlightens our minds and light our paths. The word is also the truth; being the truth, it endures. When we build our lives on the word of Christ, we build them on the truth, which endures and is firm.
Today's first reading reminds us that it is those whose salvation is from God that is truly strong and defended. It is said, "We have a strong city; he sets up salvation as walls and bulwarks." The strong city is an individual who enjoys God's salvation. God's salvation is like walls and bulwarks round a city, which make the city strong. It is when we are self-assured and established that we can accommodate others. Hence, it is added, "Open the gates, that the righteous nation which keeps faith may enter in." The reading also reminds us that it is by putting our trust in God that we secure peace from Him: "You keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord for ever, for the Lord GOD is an everlasting rock." Pride denies us of trust in God and makes us face His displeasure. The pride is represented in the inhabitants of height, the lofty city, which is made low.
Lord God, grant that we may always do Your will and be established in the words of Your Son. Amen
Fr. Andrew Olowomuke
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