December 3, 2020 Memorial of Saint Francis Xavier, Priest (Lectionary: 178)
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.
Alleluia IS 55:6
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Seek the LORD while he may be found;
call him while he is near.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
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.”
By Blanca Morales
House flipping shows have become more and more popular in recent years, and with good reason: we see something that looks beyond repair and watch it turn into something beautiful.
One of the biggest appeals in these reality shows is the progress: assessing damages, demolition, reinforcing and rebuilding.
I always fast forward through those parts and go straight to the end. Skip the messes or the stuff about infrastructure. I know I should watch the whole show to learn what makes the structure of a house sound, but please just show me the finished product in all its perfected glory.
It’s not too different with my own heart. Sometimes I want to fast forward to the healed, wiser, has-it-all-together version of me. It would be nice to fast forward through the parts where I have to grow and learn. Yet if I don’t take my heart to the master builder to assess what needs to be restored, I won’t get too far.
My own fixer upper required prayer and vulnerability in order to change my rusty little heart.
Thankfully, for God, nothing is beyond repair.
This meant clearing out all the grime of past wounds, and dusting the cobwebs off forgotten dreams. By remembering the promises in Scripture, reading spiritual books and seeking the Sacraments, my faith and love for the Lord began to take shape like it never had before. Then came one of the most challenging parts: allowing the Lord to knock down the walls around my heart. This let His light pour in, helping me to understand His plan for my life even more.
This process hasn’t been easy or even pretty at times. But if I had skipped through this, I wouldn’t have been able to lay down a foundation of total trust and hope that each day I’m getting closer to being restored to the glory He has designed.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Blanca Morales is a writer and communications professional hailing from a sunny corner of Florida. She is inspired to encourage beauty, creativity and authenticity. An avid urban explorer, she is often found at quaint little cafes discussing the loveliness of nature. She has also written for Life Teen, the Archdiocese of Miami, Verily Magazine, and others. She shares about her faith and all things caffeinated here.