Thursday of the First Week of Advent, Cycle 1
First reading of the day:
Isaiah 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.
Gospel reading of the day:
Matthew 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.
Reflection on the readings: Advent reminds us that us that God keeps God's promises: if God says God is coming to save that is what God does. But God keeping God's word does not let us off the hook. We have our part to play in the unfolding of human destiny. Isaiah and Jesus both caution us that failing to attend to the needs of the least of our brothers and sisters is like a lofty city tumbling to dust. When the rain falls, the floods come, and winds blow, our house will not collapse when we let our light shine on the just and the unjust alike, loving with the complete abandon and indiscriminate nature of God. The promise of Advent is not just God fulfilling God's promises; it also the hope of our living up to our promises.
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