Saturday of the Twenty-Third Week in Ordinary Time
Living on Christ, the Rock
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Other Celebrations for this Day:
Liturgical Cycle: C | Lectionary Cycle: I
Introduction
Christ came to call sinners, and of this fact Paul himself is the perfect example. Persecutor as he had been, God in his patience showed mercy to Paul, who had been a persecutor of Christians.
Luke makes two main points today. Christians will be recognized for what they are worth by their Christian living. The faith that is in their hearts overflows in their deeds. God’s word has sunk in into their hearts and only goodness in accordance with the gospel will have to come from them. In such people faith is solid; it is built on rock, it does not waver. The rains and the storm of trials cannot blow that faith apart.
Opening Prayer
Lord our God,
let the word of your Son sink into our hearts
so deeply and so firmly
that all of our life is marked by it.
Let no trial or doubt or fad or fear
be powerful enough to shake that faith;
for in you we trust
and on you we rely
on account of him who is the living proof
that you love us and want us to be happy,
Jesus Christ our Lord.
First Reading
This saying is true and worth believing: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.
Because of that, I was mercifully treated; Christ Jesus wanted to show his greatest patience so that I might serve as an example for all who are to believe and receive eternal life.
To the King of ages, the only God who exists beyond all perishable and visible creations—be honor and glory forever. Amen!
Responsorial Psalm
R. You are my inheritance, O Lord.
Keep me, O God, for in you I take refuge;
I say to the LORD, “My Lord are you.”
O LORD, my allotted portion and my cup,
you it is who hold fast my lot.
R. You are my inheritance, O Lord.
I bless the LORD who counsels me;
even in the night my heart exhorts me.
I set the LORD ever before me;
with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed.
R. You are my inheritance, O Lord.
You will show me the path to life,
fullness of joys in your presence,
the delights at your right hand forever.
R. You are my inheritance, O Lord.
Alleluia Verse
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Your word, O Lord, is truth;
consecrate us in the truth.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
Each tree is recognized by its fruit: you can’t gather figs from thorn bushes or grapes from brambles.
Similarly, a good person brings forth good things from the good stored in his heart, while an evil person brings forth evil things from the evil stored in his heart, for the mouth speaks from what fills the heart.
I will show you what the one is like who comes to me, listens to my words, and acts on them.
That person is like a builder who digs deep and lays the foundation of his house on the rock. When the river overflows and the stream crashes against the house, it cannot be carried off because the house is well built.
But the one who listens and does not act is like a man who built his house on the ground without a foundation. The flood burst against it and the house fell at once, and what a terrible disaster that was!”
Prayers of the Faithful
– That we may not just hear and know the word of God but live by it consistently and enthusiastically, we pray:
– That the Lord may be our rock in whom we put our trust and on whom we build our lives, we pray:
– That our friendships may be firm and reliable, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
Lord our God,
you offer us the bread and the cup
of your Son Jesus Christ.
We are eager to share his food
that unites us, in all our diversity,
in one community of service and love.
We are also willing to drink his cup,
even when it is at times a cup of suffering.
Accept our offering
on account of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Prayer after Communion
Lord God, our Father,
your Son has been here with us
and this is enough for us
to keep our faith and hope alive
and make it as solid as rock.
Let this faith bring forth
fruits of goodness that come from the heart:
compassion with those who grieve,
justice, kindness and service.
Keep us all in your love
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Blessing
Scripture often calls God our Rock. Our faith becomes rock-solid when it is built on him and also when it shows what we are in what we do. May almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Luke 6: 43-49
Jesus teaches us with a couple of simple images: a tree is known by its fruit; a house stands or falls depending on its foundation. These words touch our lives directly. Fine words, pious gestures, or even good intentions are not enough. What matters are the fruits of our daily life—our deeds, our words, our hidden choices. The Gospel we preach and believe in is credible only when it is visible in our actions.
This is a challenge for Christians today. We cannot convince the world of Jesus and his Gospel with debates or pamphlets, but by showing that the Gospel produces men and women of integrity, mercy, joy, and faithfulness. Christianity shines not in arguments but in lives transformed.
Jesus also reminds us that our words reveal our hearts. What comes out when we speak freely, when we are unguarded? Our words reveal where our treasure truly resides—whether in God or in other possessions. That is why we must allow His Spirit to dwell within us, so that even our casual words carry the fragrance of His presence.
Finally, the parable of the two builders teaches us about foundations. It is easy to build on sand—quick results, little effort. But when storms come, everything collapses. To build on rock requires toil, patience, and sacrifice. Yet this is the only secure foundation: listening to Jesus and putting His words into practice. The long view, not the short one. The way of eternity, not the way of immediate ease.
The storms of life will come for all of us. But if we dig deep, if we root ourselves in Christ, our house will stand. Strong, steady, unshaken. For the foundation is not ourselves, but the Lord who never fails.