4 Dec
Thu
1st Week of Advent
St John Damascene, priest & doctor
Is. 26:1-6
Ps. 118:1,8-9,19-21,25-27
Mt. 7:21,24-27
(Ps Wk I)
How To Pray With Shalom
Home Page of Shalom
Index of This Month
 

Foundations for the heavenly kingdom are constructed of two rock-like materials: (1) hearing the words of Jesus and (2) putting them into practice. In Matthew's Gospel, Jesus concludes His lengthy sermon with this emphatic statement: 'None of those who cry out, 'Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of God but only the one who does the will of my Father ...'

This Gospel brings to a stop all our work at remodelling and restoring the 'houses' of our Christian lives. Our teacher and designing architect, Jesus, questions us on whether we are fulfilling his building specifications. Jesus' concern is not with the incidentals of design and detail traditional or contemporary. Rather, Jesus examines and tests the foundations upon which we build our lives. These foundations must be solid and rock-like. These foundations are constructed by hearing the words of Jesus and putting them into practice.

Advent offers the opportunity for examining the foundations of our lives. Today's prophetic passage conveys confidence in God as the source and the builder of salvation: 'We have a strong city; he sets up salvation as walls and bulwarks'.



We 'Trust in the Lord for ever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock' (Is. 26).

DAILY OFFERING
Eternal Father, I offer You everything I do this day; my thoughts, words, joys and sufferings. Grant that, vivified by the Holy Spirit and united to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, my life this day may be of service to You and to others. I also pray that all those preparing for marriage discover in Sacrament the source of Christ's grace for living a fithful and fruitful love. Amen.

PRAYING WITH THE CHURCH
INTENTION
That the members of all religions, may cooperate to alleviate the human sufferings of our time.
Elaboration

- END -