About the life we live in this world
Today is the Feast of St Henry (973-1024), Duke of Bavaria and Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. He was a military man and a ruler who was concerned about the place of the Church in the world. He encouraged the bishops in Germany to reform the Church according to Canon Law. Throughout his time as Emperor, he supported monastic life and built churches. The poor in the Empire benefitted from his generosity. Towards the end of his life, he contemplated resigning as the Emperor and becoming a monk.
[Read the Gospel from the memorial Mass celebrating the life of St Henry. Then find it in the Gospel of Matthew and take note of the context. You will find that the Gospel reading is part of the Sermon on the Mount. Look at the events leading up to the Sermon on the Mount (4:23-25).]
Jesus said, “Not all those who say ‘You are our Lord’ will enter the kingdom of heaven. The only people who will enter the kingdom of heaven are those who do what my Father in heaven wants. On the last day many people will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, we spoke for you, and through you we forced out demons and did many miracles.’ Then I will tell them clearly, ‘Get away from me, you who do evil. I never knew you.’
“Everyone who hears my words and obeys them is like a wise man who built his house on rock. It rained hard, the floods came, and the winds blew and hit that house. But it did not fall, because it was built on rock. Everyone who hears my words and does not obey them is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. It rained hard, the floods came, and the winds blew and hit that house, and it fell with a big crash.” (Matthew 7:21-27 – NCV version)
SEE
What is happening here in this Gospel story? What does Jesus teach about the motivation of his followers? What can you identify in your life as “building on sand” and “building on rock” and what have you done about these parts of your life?
What is the context of this story? What has happened to cause him to speak in this way?
What is the outcome for people who take his message to heart? And what will happen to those who ignore him?
JUDGE
What do you think about Jesus’ message in this part of the Gospel?
What does your faith say about how to get to heaven? Is there anything in what Jesus teaches that is supports or challenges what you believe?
Ideally, what should happen if Jesus’ teaching is taken to heart?
ACT
What change do you want to make to the world we live in so that it conforms to the will of God?
What action can you carry out this week that will contribute to the change you would like to see?
Who can you involve in your action and how?
Author: Pat Branson
Image source: The Wise Man Built his House on Rock