Ordinary Time - Week 09a
Built on rock
(From Conversation with God, Fernandez Carvajal)In the Gospel of the Mass Christ speaks to us of two houses, built at the same time, and apparently identical with each other. But the great difference between them became obvious when the testing time arrived: the rains came, and the floods and the gales. One of them stood firm because it had solid foundations: the other fell because it was built upon sand: its ruin was catastrophic and complete. Our Lord calls the man who built the first house, the one that stood firm, a wise man. The builder of the second house, He tells us, is a fool.
The first house resisted the wintry blasts and the rising flood waters so well, not because of its architecturally pleasing design, or even because its roof was soundly put together, but thanks to its foundation on bedrock. That house lasted, it gave secure shelter to its owner and was a model of good construction. Just so is the person who builds on the rock of desires put into practice by fulfilling God's Will in the small things of every day, in more important matters, and also in times of real trouble when they come. So we see sick people, weakened in body by their disease, bear their pain joyfully and lovingly, greatly strengthened by seeing in their condition the hand of God's Providence, which always blesses those who love him, although in mysterious and very different ways. So too the person who has to put up with slander and calumny, or who faces financial ruin and sees the inevitable effects on his family, or who suffers the death of a loved one still in the prime of life, or who experiences job discrimination because of religious bigotry ... The house - the life of the Christian who follows Christ in his deeds - does not fail, because it is built upon total abandonment to the Will of his Father God. This abandonment does not prevent him from defending himself when justice is at issue. He also demands the rights to which he is entitled as a worker, or to have access to the means to remedy his legitimate grievances. But all this is done with serenity, without anguish of mind and without bitterness or rancour.
In our prayer today we will tell our Lord that we want to abandon ourselves in his arms; there we will be absolutely safe. Desire nothing for yourself either good or bad: want only what God wants. When you are with Jesus you will find that what is bitter becomes sweet, and what is rough turns smooth. Jesus, I put myself trustingly in your arms, hiding my head on your loving breast, my heart touching yours: I want what you want, in everything.