Founded on Rock – Matthew 7:21, 24-27 Reflection
Remember when you first agreed to appreciate God’s desire for you? If you are like most Christians, you have likely had significant roadblocks and numerous difficulties in your journey. Yet, you have discovered that God has a plan for you. The rain has fallen, floods have come, and the winds have blown and buffeted your house, but your faith is founded on rock. For example, before I was a teen, I explored the beauty of nature and established praying on boulders in the woods. I thought I might be interested in being a monk due to my desire to walk deep into the forest prayer time in my late teens. I experienced a very close brush with death in my thirties. The result was to hike silently into the woods on a trail. I encountered a massive rock formation where I expressed my gratitude to God for being alive. That began a conversation with God that moved me closer to Mary’s “Yes.” Similar to what happened to many others, an extremely personal experience with 9/11 followed by deep prayer on my favorite close-to-home boulder triggered my final “Yes!” Like many, I struggled to accept deep faith over the years but still believed since those pre-teen moments in the forest. Now, listening for and reacting to God’s “feather touch whispers” continues to have primacy in my life.
He Who is of God Hears the Word of God by James Tissot (full-resolution painting).
More details are available on the Brooklyn Museum website.
Additional Ordinary Time Reflections
Matthew 7:21, 24-27 – Scripture*
Concerning Self-Deception
21 “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.
24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. 25 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. 26 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. 27 The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell—and great was its fall!”
Additional Thoughts
Thank you for meditating on this Gospel and reading this Lectio Divina on Matthew 7:21, 24-27 Reflection – Founded on Rock.
Would you like to contribute related thoughts to these Lectio reflections on the Gospel readings? Since Lectio is not the only contemplative payer style, others might appreciate these types of expressions in this ministry. Do you see God’s grandeur everywhere and unconditionally enjoy sharing the love of Christ that you have inside? Are you willing to be anonymous in what you would share? If so, email me.
Prayer for young families:
Lord, let the young families of our communities experience your joy, peace, comfort, and love despite worldly distractions.
Attributions
*This site has permission to use the New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE) Bible Matthew 7 passage.
The Immersive Prayer website follows the guidelines for image web use at the Brooklyn Museum and the Jewish Museum websites.
Primary Lectio Divina word or phrase: Founded on Rock
Page and discussion group on these Lectio Divina daily Gospel Readings.
Discussion group on St. John of the Cross.