We’ve all been to the beach. We’ve all built castles in the sand and then watched the waves come rolling in to shore and pull those castles down. Of course that castle wasn’t going to stay standing. The very stuff it was made of has no foundation, it’s tied to nothing, and it shifts and moves with every whim of the ocean.
We’ve also all probably stood inside of great works of architecture. Four years ago my husband and I went to Italy and saw Saint Mark’s Basilica in Venice. It’s an enormously beautiful church that has been standing for almost a thousand years! Can you imagine building something that’s going to be around for a thousand years? Can you imagine the planning, the time, and the craftsmanship that would have to go into constructing that building? Can you imagine how strong its foundation would have to be?
Sand castles and cathedrals. One requires almost no time and effort and can be torn down in an instant. The other requires painstaking labor over a long time, but the result is beautiful and lasting.
In today’s Gospel Jesus lays out two scenarios: one is easy and one is difficult. It’s easy to hear the word of God. We hear the Word of God all the time, sometimes without be fully awake and aware. But hearing the Word of God and putting it into action—that is not as easily done. It requires obedience, humility, putting aside what we want or are comfortable with, and saying yes to God.
Putting Christ’s words into action can be difficult, but the effect it has on our hearts and lives is so valuable. It doesn’t take much living to realize that life is hard. Loss of a loved one, infertility and miscarriage, financial struggles, broken relationships, sometimes it feels like you can barely keep your head above the water. To be able to go through these storms and to still be holding onto our faith when they pass is only possible with a strong foundation. And the way we build that foundation is by hearing and doing the Word of God.
Dear sisters, why choose any foundation other than Christ? He is strong, He is a refuge, He is “the rock that is higher than I.” (Ps 61:2)
Why choose any foundation other than Christ?
Anna Coyne is a wife, mother, knitter, gardener, and convert to the Catholic faith. Read more about her here.
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