20251204 BUILDING OUR LIFE ON CHRIST AS OUR EVERLASTING ROCK
04 December 2025, Thursday, 1st Week in Advent
First reading | Isaiah 26:1-6 |
Open the gates; let the upright nation come in
That day, this song will be sung in the land of Judah:
We have a strong city;
to guard us he has set
wall and rampart about us.
Open the gates! Let the upright nation come in,
she, the faithful one
whose mind is steadfast, who keeps the peace,
because she trusts in you.
Trust in the Lord for ever,
for the Lord is the everlasting Rock;
he has brought low those who lived high up
in the steep citadel;
he brings it down, brings it down to the ground,
flings it down in the dust:
the feet of the lowly, the footsteps of the poor
trample on it.
Responsorial Psalm |
Psalm 117(118):1,8-9,19-21,25-27 |
Blessed in the name of the Lord is he who comes.
or
Alleluia.
Give thanks to the Lord for he is good,
for his love has no end.
It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in men;
it is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in princes.
Blessed in the name of the Lord is he who comes.
or
Alleluia.
Open to me the gates of holiness:
I will enter and give thanks.
This is the Lord’s own gate
where the just may enter.
I will thank you for you have answered
and you are my saviour.
Blessed in the name of the Lord is he who comes.
or
Alleluia.
O Lord, grant us salvation;
O Lord, grant success.
Blessed in the name of the Lord
is he who comes.
We bless you from the house of the Lord;
the Lord God is our light.
Blessed in the name of the Lord is he who comes.
or
Alleluia.
Gospel Acclamation | Is40:9-10 |
Alleluia, alleluia!
Shout with a loud voice, joyful messenger to Jerusalem.
Here is the Lord God coming with power.
Alleluia!
Or: | Is55:6 |
Alleluia, alleluia!
Seek the Lord while he is still to be found,
call to him while he is still near.
Alleluia!
Gospel |
Matthew 7:21,24-27 |
The wise man built his house on a rock
Jesus said to his disciples: ‘It is not those who say to me, “Lord, Lord,” who will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the person who does the will of my Father in heaven. Therefore, everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on rock. Rain came down, floods rose, gales blew and hurled themselves against that house, and it did not fall: it was founded on rock. But everyone who listens to these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a stupid man who built his house on sand. Rain came down, floods rose, gales blew and struck that house, and it fell; and what a fall it had!’
BUILDING OUR LIFE ON CHRIST AS OUR EVERLASTING ROCK
SCRIPTURE READINGS: [IS 26:1-6; PS 118:1,8-9,19-21,25-27; MT 7:21,24-27]
How should we prepare ourselves for the coming of the Lord? Jesus said to His disciples, “It is not those who say to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ who will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the person who does the will of my Father in heaven.” Indeed, many people claim Jesus as their Saviour and Lord. They want to be called “Christians,” but they are selective in observing the texts of Scripture–accepting those they like and rejecting those they do not agree with. The Lord makes it clear that mere membership and association with Him are not enough to enter the kingdom of heaven unless we do the will of His Father. There is no automatic salvation just because we are baptised. Salvation requires that we believe Jesus is more than a teacher–He is the Son of God, the Word made flesh, and our final judge (cf. Mt 25:31-46).
So we must turn to Jesus so that we can build ourselves into a strong fortress, like Jerusalem, to defend ourselves from the onslaught of our enemies. This is what the Scripture readings exhort us to do. In the first reading from the prophet Isaiah, we have the imagery of Jerusalem, the strong city. The Israelites always looked to the Lord as the eternal rock for their deliverance and salvation. The prophet Isaiah contrasts Jerusalem with the godless city that will be destroyed (cf. Isa 25:12). Jerusalem is a strong city wherein lies salvation because it is the city of the Great King (Ps 48:2).
This city has the “salvation” of God for its “walls,” meaning that it is not merely a geographical place but a state of mind. Instead of the closed gates of a city fearful of attack, it has the open gates of confidence. Unless we open our gates, we cannot receive the love of God. Unfortunately, many of us build walls to keep others out for fear of being hurt. But God sets up His own walls to provide safety. Yet while these walls enclose the city, the gates remain open–but not to everyone. Thus, the condition for entry into God’s kingdom is righteousness and fidelity to the covenant. For this reason, we must echo the psalmist: “Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the Lord” (Ps 118:19).
But strength is more than a superstitious reliance on the power of the God of Israel. It requires that we accept Him as our king both in name and in fact. In other words, we accept His judgment on what is right and wrong and live according to His will. “Against you, you alone, have I sinned, and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are justified in your sentence and blameless when you pass judgment” (Ps 51:4). This is what the prophet invites us to: “Open the gates! Let the upright nation come in, she, the faithful one whose mind is steadfast, who keeps the peace because she trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord is the everlasting Rock.”
What does it mean to say that God is the everlasting Rock in whom we can trust? The word “rock” goes back to the time of Moses, where it is used in reference to the God of Israel (Dt 32:4, 15, 18, 30, 31). It underscores His fidelity and the security He provides for those who trust in Him. Only those who give their unwavering devotion to the Lord will find perfect peace as they do His will. To trust in God as the everlasting Rock implies that His will is our peace and that we will not choose any path except the one He has given. We will not pick and choose what we think is right or good, but follow what God has revealed in His Word.
Indeed, our attitude toward God must be one of humility and trust in His Word. If we are proud and arrogant, He will bring low “those who lived high up in the steep citadel; brings it down, brings it down to the ground, flings it down in the dust: the feet of the lowly, the footsteps of the poor trample on it.” The assurance is clear: God deals graciously with those who are oppressed and poor. He acts justly and will deliver the just and the lowly, but the rich and proud He will bring down because of their arrogance and sins. As St Paul says, “But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing the things that are, so that no one might boast in the presence of God” (1 Cor 1:27-29).
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus likewise lays down the conditions for entering the Kingdom of God. Today’s Gospel concludes this discourse. After explaining what it takes to enter the Kingdom, Jesus stresses the necessity of doing the will of God. This is echoed in the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew’s Gospel: “Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Jesus Himself lived what He taught. In the garden of Gethsemane, in the depths of fear and pain, He prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not what I want but what you want” (Mt 26:39).
Knowing how challenging it is to do God’s will, Jesus ends with a stark contrast between two people: one who built his house on rock and the other on sand. “Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on rock. Rain came down, floods rose, gales blew and hurled themselves against that house, and it did not fall: it was founded on rock. But everyone who listens to these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand. Rain came down, floods rose, gales blew and struck that house, and it fell; and what a fall it had!”
Jesus’ warning compares the wisdom of finding righteousness in Him with the foolishness of pursuing self-righteousness based on laws and institutions. St Cyril of Alexandria likewise warns that some who, in the beginning, believed rightly and laboured at virtue–even working miracles, prophesying, and casting out demons–may later turn aside to evil, deception, and self-seeking desire. Of these Jesus says, “I never knew you.” We must not deceive ourselves into thinking that good works alone can save us. If we perform them out of pride, self-interest, or desire for glory, power, or influence, such works can destroy us. We would be building God’s kingdom on sand, for once praise ceases, so will our good deeds. Our happiness would be dependent on human affirmation rather than God’s glory.
Indeed, we must guard against deceiving ourselves and others by secretly seeking attention and popularity. Today, some preachers are more concerned with being popular and admired than with bringing people to God and His glory. Some even perform healing miracles or demonstrate supposed spiritual powers to win acclaim. Jesus warns that signs and wonders are not proof of the Father’s will, since they may come from sources other than God–including the demonic or human manipulation (cf. Acts 19:13-16; 2 Thess 2:9-12; Rev 13:13-14).
The final proof of any ministry or life of righteousness is whether it leads to obedience to the Father’s will. Indeed, there are miracles–and there are miracles. For some, a miracle means making God do our will. In truth, the greater miracle is helping people to do God’s will rather than attempting to bend God to ours. Hearing the Sermon on the Mount should not merely stir an emotional response but lead us to exalt the Lord in all we do and say. God is not impressed by empty worship, pious words, or superficial praise. He desires obedience and sincerity in doing good for His greater glory. As St Cyril concludes, “Even if they at the outset had lived virtuously, they ended up condemned. God knows those whom he loves, and he loves those who single-mindedly believe in him and do the things that please him.”
Best Practices for Using the Daily Scripture Reflections
- Encounter God through the spirit of prayer and the scripture by reflecting and praying the Word of God daily. The purpose is to bring you to prayer and to a deeper union with the Lord on the level of the heart.
- Daily reflections when archived will lead many to accumulate all the reflections of the week and pray in one sitting. This will compromise your capacity to enter deeply into the Word of God, as the tendency is to read for knowledge rather than a prayerful reading of the Word for the purpose of developing a personal and affective relationship with the Lord.
- It is more important to pray deeply, not read widely. The current reflections of the day would be more than sufficient for anyone who wants to pray deeply and be led into an intimacy with the Lord.
Note: You may share this reflection with someone. However, please note that reflections are not archived online nor will they be available via email request.
Written by His Eminence, Cardinal William SC Goh, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Singapore © All Rights Reserved.
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