Homily for Thursday of the 1st Week of Advent
Theme: House on the rock
By: Fr. Francis Onwunali
Homily for Thursday December 2 2021
“Our Lord Jesus is the only foundation that can hold us up when trials and disaster threaten us. When we make Jesus and His Word the rock and foundation of our lives, nothing can shake us nor keep us from God’s presence and protection”.
“When the storm is over, the wicked is no more, but the upright stands firm for ever” (Prov. 10: 25). The above, likely, could have been the background to Jesus’ parable of the sensible and foolish builders in today’s gospel (Matt. 7: 21, 24-27). Jesus instructs that we need more than words to enter into the Kingdom of God. We must build on solid Rock so as not to be swayed and swept away by storms of life.
Isaiah in the first reading (Is. 26: 1-6) reassures the lowly, the oppressed of his time that God will re-establish the city of Jerusalem as the city of peace and justice. Those who live highly at the expense of the lowly will have their fortune overturned.
Dear friends, the letter of credit we have is our character; it is not in mere words but in action that we can give account of our faith. How solidly built is my relationship with Christ Who, is the ROCK? Our security is assured if we have an impregnable fortress. So let us “trust in the Lord for ever, for the Lord is the everlasting Rock” (Is. 26: 4).
I pray as we journey in life today, we may realize that our character is revealed in the choices we make especially between true and false, good and evil. May we stand with Jesus Who alone is Good, Who alone is Truth, and Who alone is the Way that leads to Life (John 14: 6). May Jesus be our only foundation to hold us when trials and disasters threaten. Have a Rock Foundation-full day!
Fr. Francis Onwunali