Rock Solid

 “Anyone who hears my words and puts them into practice is like the wise man who built his house on rock.” Matthew 7:24

On December 11, 1993, an entire apartment building, Block One of the Highland Towers, collapsed in Selangor, Malaysia. 48 people were killed. The cause: the soil on which the building was constructed was oversaturated with water that it became mud. 100,000 square meters of mud pushed on the foundations of the building making cracks on the road, warning of an impending collapse. 

Sometimes there are cracks in our own spiritual makeup or disposition. Too much stress, anxiety, shame, unforgiveness, introspection, pride, sensitivity, or blaming others for our life.  While listening on YouTube to Christine Caine, she said we have to have the courage to let go of the past. She showed some papers on powerpoint. One was her birth certificate which had “Unnamed” on the line where her name should have been. She also showed a 25 year old letter from the Education Department which said she was not competent, she was unqualified, and if she wanted to pursue any kind of social work, she had to go back to school. 

Today Christine, along with her husband, is the founder of A21, an anti-human trafficking, anti-slavery organization operating in 14 countries around the world. She did not let her black and white documents define her. Instead, she looked to another black and white love letter, the Bible, which said that everything was possible to him who believes (Mark 9:23). It also showed her that even if she was unnamed at birth, when she was in her mother’s womb, God knew her, and set her apart. (Jeremiah 1:5). 

If there is something in our past holding us back from pursuing what God wants us to do, we can rebuild a better future based on the rock solid plans found in the Bible. “For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11). 

My Heart is Moved with Pity

 “My heart is moved with pity..." Mt. 15:32

We are all made in the image and likeness of God (Gen. 1:27), and I do believe that we have some of His character. After all, we are "created to be like God, truly righteous and holy." (Ephesians 4:24). We can see this compassion in a child who cries when her playmate is hurt, or who takes pity on a wounded kitten. But as we grow older, we try to protect ourselves from pain and distress and get immune to the faces of need we see around us. 

In Matthew 15, Jesus is confronted with a great crowd who had been following him for three days. He said, "They have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, for fear they may collapse on the way." A practical concern. How about me? Do I naturally feel compassion for the woman and child sleeping on rags and filthy cardboard on the sidewalk? Do I want to do something for the man languishing in jail for a crime he did not commit? How about a street child in danger of being preyed upon by unscrupulous men?

Even if I do not feel "moved to pity" like Jesus, if I want to be like Him, I can start with a small action of mercy. Just like being happy starts with smiling, Charles Darwin said , "The free expression by outward signs of an emotion intensifies it." And William James notes that if someone does not express an emotion, then he has not felt that emotion at all.

God is rich in mercy (Eph. 2:4), and if we want to be the same as our Father, we don't have to wait till we feel compassion, we can just DO IT! Mercy is as mercy does!

A Little Child Shall Lead Them

 "...and a little child shall lead them." Isaiah 11:6

A little child shall guide them... that is what it says in the prophetic word of Isaiah. We can connect this to what Jesus says in the Gospel for today, Luke 10, "what you have hidden from the learned and the clever you have revealed to the merest children." 

Sometimes we over complicate believing in God. Paul Washer, the fiery preacher tells of when he was a young kid. His mom gave him clear instructions not to get himself dirty on his first day in school as he had a new set of clothes. Well, he got himself into a fight and went down to play in the river! All his cracks and crevices got filled up with dirt. So he asked John and Rance to come home as they were as dirty as he was. His mom saw him from the window with fire coming out of her eyes. "Now mom, don't get mad," he started, "look at John and Rance..."  Before he could finish, his mom gave him his best theology lesson: "John and Rance are not my children. You are my child. I have nothing to do with them, but I have everything to do with you. Now go upstairs, say your prayers and prepare to die." Now Paul goes around the world preaching with the biggest conviction in the world that God is calling us to be His children and we should say yes to Him every day. 

Lord, may I have the faith of a little child, trusting that I am Yours and You will teach me how to get to heaven and be with you! 

Lord, I Believe!

 “Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith.” Matthew 8:10

What was it about the Centurion’s faith that surprised Jesus? Jesus said to the centurion, “Go, and just as you have believed, so let it be done for you.” And his servant was healed at that very hour. True, it was very unusual for a Centurion, an officer in charge of 100 or more soldiers, to care so much for his servant. The historian Polybius noted that a Centurion must be “ready to hold their ground, and die at their posts." They must be courageous, and not very sentimental, I think. 

But this man took the time to find Jesus, approach him and petition, “Lord, my servant lies at home paralyzed and badly tormented.” In those times a servant was no better than an animal, but this Centurion loved his servant and had compassion for him. He also had faith in Jesus, that even if Jesus did not go to his home, He could heal his servant. 

The Centurion said the very words we say at every Mass, “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant shall be healed.” Jesus saw his heart, his faith, and answered his prayer. Do we have the same kind of faith as the Centurion?

Advent is a special time with special graces. Let us approach Jesus with the expectant faith of the Centurion. And if we feel our faith is lacking, let us pray like the father in Mark 9:24, “Lord, I believe! Help my unbelief!”