Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time – Wilson SVD

Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time – Wilson SVD

Listen and Act and Transform

Thursday, June 27- Kings 24:8-17; Matthew 7:21-29The sermon on the mount comes to a conclusion with today’s Gospel reading. Jesu concludes the sermon on the mount with the parable of two builders building their houses upon rock and sand.

Jesu was an expert, not only in the scriptures and preaching but also in practical matters of life. Jesus speaks of the foundations of a house in today’s gospel. I am sure, he knew well what he was talking about. His explanation is of a practical man. Building a house requires proper planning, resources and hard work. House is built for many generations. No one builds a house intending to be destroyed soon. Building a house is an expert activity and similarly building life is also a skilful activity. Planning, resources and hard work are required for a successful living. No one lives wishing to die. It is easy to build a house on the sandy ground, less of digging down but disaster lay ahead inevitably.

Jesus dismisses the people after a long sermon admonishing them to be ‘doers’ and not mere ‘hearers’ of Word of God. The Greek word ἀκούω – akuo points to not just peripheral hearing but active listening to something, paying undivided attention to, listening to comprehend and understand. It is not casual hearing.

We hear but we do not listen: one of the difficulties that we face in the modern world is that we hear and we do not listen. Listening leads to understanding and understanding produces knowledge. We hear many things/sounds, but we fail to listen to. Jesus demands that we should listen. Word of God is the source of life, listening to Word of God is a requisite for a successful living.

Translate into action: Knowledge becomes relevant and meaningful when it is translated into action. Jesus demands that we do not stop at listening but move to action. Knowledge gives us awareness, and awareness leads to action. Action transforms life and people. Knowledge must become action, theory must become practice, and the world of God must become life. There is no usefulness in going to a doctor and not doing what he asks you to do.

The wise builder knows well where and how to build a house. A follower of Jesus is wise because, he/she knows well that the Word of God is to be translated into action, produce manifold fruits staying through storms and summers.

Take Away for us:

Listening leads to Understanding

Understanding produces Knowledge

Knowledge brings Awareness

Awareness propels Action

Action Transforms

Wilson SVD

Divine Word Missionary