Reflection for Thursday, Dec. 3

Today’s Gospel reading is a familiar one: “Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.” (Matthew 7:21, 24-27). Nothing can shake the house - not rain, not wind, not even a flood.

A few lines earlier in the Gospel, we see what those words are that we must act on - the Golden Rule: “Do to others whatever you would have them do to you.” (Matthew 7:12). The first reading is less well known, but also refers to rock.

In the first reading, from Isaiah (26:1-6), we are presented with the lyrics of a song to “Trust in the LORD forever! For the LORD is an eternal Rock.” God is the Rock that Jesus wants us to build our house on. If we listen to the words of Jesus and keep God as our Rock, nothing can destroy us - not rain, not wind, not even a global pandemic.

This Advent, keep God as your Rock and “trust in the LORD forever,” but also remember that Golden Rule. Stay safe and Merry Christmas!

Jennifer Cimmino