Reflection on Mt 7:26

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.

And Jesus adds: “The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” This is Christ’s warning. It is said briefly: the house fell with a great crash. Why did this house of human life fall? It was built on the sand of one’s dreams, plans, demands… It was not built on the rock, that is, on Christ and His Gospel demands. However, it is not enough to hear them; we need to put them into practice.

Jesus pointed out the need to put God’s word into practice when a woman in the crowd called out: “Blessed is the womb that bore You…” He said: “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it.” (Lk 11:27f)

Keeping God’s commandments is hard for those who have the spirit of the world. These commandments become a burden to them, which they try to throw away sooner or later. Those, however, who have been sincerely converted and put Jesus first, committing to daily prayer for His sake, be they men or women, receive grace and keeping God’s commandments literally becomes a joy for them. Even amid the greatest suffering or humiliation, they are united to Jesus and filled with deep peace which the world cannot give.

God’s commandments and the commandments of Jesus are summed up in the “Your will be done” of The Lord’s Prayer. This entails the willingness to renounce our own will. If we do the will of God, the deeds thus carried out, however small or insignificant, remain for all eternity as treasures that rust does not destroy and thieves do not dig up. The basis of our spiritual life is to be able to set aside time for prayer every day. That is why it is so important to keep the holy hour and the prayer stops. God will then give us light and strength so that we not only know Jesus’ commandments, but also put them into practice.

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