Let's Talk About Today's Reading

[jpy15026]

Gospel
Mt 7:21, 24-27
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’
will enter the Kingdom of heaven,
but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.
“Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them
will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.
The rain fell, the floods came,
and the winds blew and buffeted the house.
But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock.
And everyone who listens to these words of mine
but does not act on them
will be like a fool who built his house on sand.
The rain fell, the floods came,
and the winds blew and buffeted the house.
And it collapsed and was completely ruined

My thoughts in parenthesis : )

Matthew 7:24-29
24 “Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.
(Peter, i.e., The Catholic Church)

25 The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock. *
(Peter and *Apostolic succession all the way to our current Pope Benedict XVI)

26 And everyone who listens to these words of mine but does not act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand. *
(Protestantism)*

27 The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. And it collapsed and was completely ruined.”
(33,000 different denominations)

28 When Jesus finished these words, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, 29 for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes*. *
(And Jesus gave this Infallibility to Peter and his successors and "The Gates of Hell will not prevail against it)

 

[cheeto1]

This is excellent, jpy! I never though of this reading like that.

did you notice this line from the first reading today?
“Trust in the LORD forever!
For the LORD is an eternal Rock”
– here is “rock” mentioned again.

–And speaking of “Lord, Lord”, today’s psalm says “Lord” 14 times!
Here are some popular “Lord, Lord” prayers from today’s psalm:
“O LORD, grant salvation!
O LORD, grant prosperity!”

Here is today’s full first reading and psalm (12-3-09) :

Reading 1
Is 26:1-6

On that day they will sing this song in the land of Judah: “A strong city have we;
he sets up walls and ramparts to protect us.
Open up the gates
to let in a nation that is just,
one that keeps faith.
A nation of firm purpose you keep in peace;
in peace, for its trust in you.”
Trust in the LORD forever!
For the LORD is an eternal Rock.
He humbles those in high places,
and the lofty city he brings down;
He tumbles it to the ground,
levels it with the dust.
It is trampled underfoot by the needy,
by the footsteps of the poor.

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 118:1 and 8-9, 19-21, 25-27a

R. (26a) Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his mercy endures forever.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in man.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in princes.
R. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Open to me the gates of justice;
I will enter them and give thanks to the LORD.
This gate is the LORD’s;
the just shall enter it.
I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me
and have been my savior.
R. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
O LORD, grant salvation!
O LORD, grant prosperity!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD;
we bless you from the house of the LORD.
The LORD is God, and he has given us light.
R. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Today is the day of St. Francis Xavier

 

[Beachcomber]

I like to see how the first reading and the Gospels go together. Sometimes, I just can’t see it; but today, the word ‘rock’ jumps right out. Both readings complement each other perfectly and I think that as the crowd was hearing Jesus speak on this, they remembered the passage from Isaiah. No wonder they saw Him teaching as one who had authority.