Thursday of the First Week of Advent
God, Our Rock
Other Celebrations for this Day:
Liturgical Cycle: B | Lectionary Cycle: I
Introduction
The first reading comes from an insert in Isaiah that was written in a later period. It speaks of God’s judgment and the victory of God over “cities” of sin. But Jerusalem, God’s community, God’s city, will stand. Those faithful to God can rely on him: he is faithful and solid as a rock.
Those who accept the call and challenge of Jesus’ words by living as his disciples are building on rock. This is true both for the individual disciple and for the community of the Church.
Opening Prayer
Lord our God,
to those who trust in you
and live the gospel of your Son,
you are a dependable rock.
In the storms and tensions of our times,
may our faith never waver,
but give us the courage
to live as we believe,
consistently, radically,
that with your Son we may do your will
and live in your love now and for ever.
First Reading
Hymn of Victory
On that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: We have a strong city, he himself has set up walls and fortifications to protect us.
Open the gates! Let the righteous nation enter, she who is firm in faithfulness.
You keep in perfect peace the one of steadfast mind, the one who trusts in you.
Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord is an everlasting Rock.
He brought down those who dwell on high, he laid low the lofty city, he razed it to the ground, leveled it to the dust.
Now it is trampled the poor and the lowly tread upon it.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 118:1 and 8-9, 19-21, 25-27a
R. (26a) Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his mercy endures forever.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in man.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in princes.
R. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Open to me the gates of justice;
I will enter them and give thanks to the LORD.
This gate is the LORD’s;
the just shall enter it.
I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me
and have been my savior.
R. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
O LORD, grant salvation!
O LORD, grant prosperity!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD;
we bless you from the house of the LORD.
The LORD is God, and he has given us light.
R. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Alleluia Verse
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Seek the LORD while he may be found;
call him while he is near.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
It Is Not Enough to Say: “Lord, Lord!”
Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.
Rock and Sand
Therefore, anyone who hears these words of mine and acts on them is like a wise man who built his house on rock.
The rain poured down, the rivers flooded, and the wind blew and struck that house. But it did not collapse, because it was built on rock.
But anyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them is like a fool who built his house on sand.
The rain poured, rivers flooded, and the wind blew and struck that house; it collapsed, and what a terrible collapse that was!”
Prayers of the Faithful
– That people may find in the faith and love of our Christian communities the support to be faithful to God and to one another, we pray:
– That people who suffer may keep putting their hope in God and find strength in the crucified Christ, we pray:
– That we may learn to trust and rely on one another as brothers and sisters in Christ, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
Lord our God,
accept this bread and this cup
as a token that with your Son
we wish to rely on you.
Give us the Spirit of your Son,
that we may not be swept away
by every fad or novelty.
Keep our faith and trust rooted in you,
and help us to live accordingly,
through Jesus Christ.
Prayer after Communion
Lord our God,
thank you for speaking to us
in the words and deeds of your Son
and strengthening us with his body.
Grant us the wisdom
of a quiet, solid faith
that makes us live as we believe
and prompts us to support one another
on the way to you.
May we thus give a bit of certainty
to those among us who waver and seek.
We ask you this through Christ our Lord.
Blessing
Build your house on rock. Build your life on the Lord and the gospel and you will never be disappointed, for God loves you and stays with you. May God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
REFLECTIONS
Gospel: Matthew 7:21, 24-27
The foundation of our faith
Jesus issues a powerful call to genuine discipleship, declaring, "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven." This sobering statement challenges us to move beyond mere verbal acknowledgment of Christ's lordship to a life marked by true obedience.
The parable that follows emphasizes the importance of building one's life on the solid foundation of Jesus's teachings. The wise builder who hears and obeys Jesus's words is likened to one who builds on rock, ensuring stability and endurance in the face of life's storms.
Conversely, the foolish builder, who hears but fails to act on Jesus's words, is compared to one who builds on sand. When the storms come, the foundation is unstable, leading to the collapse of the structure. This vivid imagery illustrates the dire consequences of a faith that lacks obedience.
The emphasis on hearing and doing highlights the inseparable connection between faith and action. Jesus desires more than lip service; He calls for a transformative response that shows obedience to His teachings.
The distinction between the two builders is not in their acknowledgement of Jesus but in their response to His words. Genuine discipleship means aligning our lives with the principles of the Kingdom, letting Jesus' teachings shape our character, decisions, and priorities.
As we reflect on this passage, we're prompted to assess the foundation of our faith. Are we building our lives on the solid rock of Christ's teachings, or are we constructing on the shifting sands of mere profession? May our faith be characterised by a genuine commitment to obeying Christ's words, ensuring that our lives stand firm, unshaken by the storms that inevitably come.
Gospel: Matthew 7:21, 24-27
Building Faith on Rock, Not Sand
Jesus reminds us of the importance of building our lives on a firm foundation of faith. Those who hear His words and act on them are likewise builders who construct their houses on rock, resilient against the storms of life. In contrast, those who merely listen without action build on sand, leaving their lives vulnerable to collapse.
This passage challenges us to reflect on the depth of our discipleship. Pope Francis warns against being "fair-weather Christians," whose faith is superficial and fades under pressure. True faith requires effort, trust, and a willingness to act on the Gospel, even when it is difficult. The poor, often excluded from worldly privileges, teach us this lesson. Stripped of distractions, they rely on God as their foundation, demonstrating trust and resilience that inspires.
Spiritual poverty emerges when faith is treated as a mere tradition or cultural marker rather than a lived reality. As Pope Francis often preaches, “Faith without works is lifeless.” True discipleship involves embracing the cost—serving the vulnerable, seeking justice, and trusting God over worldly powers.
Jesus’ words remind us that storms are inevitable, whether personal, societal, or spiritual. Only a life grounded in God’s truth can endure. Like the psalmist, we must proclaim, "Better to take refuge in the Lord than to put confidence in princes." Faith built on the rock of Christ withstands the winds of hardship and remains a testimony to hope.
Let us build wisely, trusting not in fleeting riches or power but in the eternal foundation of God’s love, allowing our lives to become houses of refuge for others in their storms.