Matthew 7:24-27
The Wise and Foolish Builders
7:24- 27 pp — Lk 6:47- 49
"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."


I'm struggling with this one. Which part is Jesus' words? Are his words the house or the rock? Normally I'd have said that it was the ground but that cannot be the case. In both stories here Christ's words have been heard and yet the ground changes.

Maybe the words of Jesus are the framework by which we are supposed to live. They're the house as it were. Within our houses we find family and joy and love and life. If they're not built on proper ground then even the best quality house will fall.

Does this mean that success depends on our actions? I don't think so. It's not a difficult choice is it when one must choose between a rocky firm ground and sand. This simple choice means we can enjoy the thins that Christ wants to give us.

We need to put into action the words of Christ. If this is the case then our house will be in a firm foundation. So whilst the words of Jesus themselves don't make up the ground on which the house is built, following them is.

The next question? What are the words of Jesus? What does he ask us to do? Not a lot. Come to him and accept him for who he is and that's enough.

I have had a good time over the last couple of days, finding, marking and highlighting all of the parables in Matthew. Such a good time that I decided on doing those in Mark and Luke too. There are loads fo them and I am looking forward to thinking about them and praying through them. I did the first yesterday and I was surprised. I didn't really think that there were parables in the Sermon on the Mount but there it is, Matthew 5:14-15.
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.
I enjoyed reading this and although it is short, I saw something new. Something that I have not seen in it before. Yes it is about being a witness for the faith and showing the hope that we have but I found myself drawn to the second part. If, as I often do, we imagine that the person carrying out the action in the sentence is God, then he is lighting us as lamps. We have a definite function and we need to be aware of this. Perhaps this function is based in a particular location or within a particular group of people but it is a function nonetheless. Being a witness isn't something that we just do, it is something that we do for a purpose. That purpose is mission and that mission is to share God with others, put yourselfs out there to show people what God is like says Jesus. The Message puts it so wonderfull when it says
“14-16 “Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.
The issue for me, and something that I need to think about is, which particular hilltop (rather appropriate given my current setting!) has God put me on?

A short passage here but I am going to say that this pieces lea me think of how I communicate with others. How often am I in touch with those I love or miss? Not nearly enough.

Tonight I am going to email my old church.

My next task with reading the bible is to read all of the parables in one of the synoptic gospels. I shall draw which one out of a hat …

Matthew

Darn there's a lot of them!

I had a look at Wikipedia which seems as good a source as any to get the references from. 22 of them. That's enough for six months' posting at the rate I post!