Gospel – Matthew 7:21,24-27
‘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 then who hears 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 beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell-and great was its fall!’
The Gospel of the Lord
The Mass intention is for Gladys Martin RIP
Reflection:
Our Gospel today presents to us with the challenge of building our world on the Rock that is his word and his life (Jesus)!
It is the realisation that God is not only up there but is also in here, in my heart and soul. That is what Pope Francis calls the joy of the Gospel, the joy of a personal relationship with Jesus. To quote from his Apostolic Exhortation on The Joy of the Gospel:
“The joy of the Gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus. Those who accept his offer of salvation are set free from sin, sorrow, inner emptiness and loneliness” (Evangeli Gaudium, 1).
Inner emptiness is no longer a lonely place; rather, it is space for enjoying the nearness of God in a personal relationship. This inner joy is described as a hidden treasure unexpectedly discovered in a field. The discovery represents a totally unanticipated experience that brings about a sudden conversion, a new awareness of God as present in one’s life. It is like a new birth and some people refer to the experience as being born again. For others the experience is like a precious pearl they were searching for over a period of time.
These are the people who spent time searching. They read, they studied, tried out various philosophies of life until eventually they found Jesus and all that he means.
Whether it comes in a sudden conversion experience, or as the result of much study and searching, hold on to this treasure at any cost.
The cost of discipleship usually involves repentance in the sense of a conversion of thought, values and behaviour.
- Have you had a conversion in your Christian life? If so how did your encounter unfold for you and bring you closer to Jesus?
- What’s your pearl of great price?