06 Mar 2011, March 6, 2011 Sunday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time

Reading 1
Dt 11:18, 26-28, 32

Moses told the people,
“Take these words of mine into your heart and soul.
Bind them at your wrist as a sign,
and let them be a pendant on your forehead.

“I set before you here, this day, a blessing and a curse:
a blessing for obeying the commandments of the LORD, your God,
which I enjoin on you today;
a curse if you do not obey the commandments of the LORD, your God,
but turn aside from the way I ordain for you today,
to follow other gods, whom you have not known.”

Ps 31:2-3, 3-4, 17, 25
Responsorial Psalm R. (3b)

Lord, be my rock of safety.
In you, O LORD, I take refuge;
let me never be put to shame.
In your justice rescue me,
incline your ear to me,
make haste to deliver me!
R. Lord, be my rock of safety.
Be my rock of refuge,
a stronghold to give me safety.
You are my rock and my fortress;
for your name’s sake you will lead and guide me.
R. Lord, be my rock of safety.
Let your face shine upon your servant;
save me in your kindness.
Take courage and be stouthearted,
all you who hope in the LORD.
R. Lord, be my rock of safety.

Reading 2
Rom 3:21-25, 28

Brothers and sisters,
Now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law,
though testified to by the law and the prophets,
the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ
for all who believe.
For there is no distinction;
all have sinned and are deprived of the glory of God.
They are justified freely by his grace
through the redemption in Christ Jesus,
whom God set forth as an expiation,
through faith, by his blood.
For we consider that a person is justified by faith
apart from works of the law.

Gospel
Mt 7:21-27

Jesus said to his disciples:
“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.
Many will say to me on that day,
‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name?
Did we not drive out demons in your name?
Did we not do mighty deeds in your name?’
Then I will declare to them solemnly,
‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers.’

“Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them
will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.
The rain fell, the floods came,
and the winds blew and buffeted the house.
But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock.
And everyone who listens to these words of mine
but does not act on them
will be like a fool who built his house on sand.
The rain fell, the floods came,
and the winds blew and buffeted the house.
And it collapsed and was completely ruined.”

Meditation: Matthew 7:21-27

“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 7:24)

This wonderful saying from Jesus is more than just a protection plan. He doesn’t want just to shield us in times of crisis. He wants to bless us every day—and he knows that his blessings will flow as we build our lives on his word.

So what kind of blessings can we expect? One is the knowledge of his unconditional love for us. Who are we that God would love us? We sin against him time and time again, but he never abandons us. His love doesn’t dry up when we fall into sin. In fact, it burns all the brighter as he waits eagerly for us to turn back to him.

Another blessing is forgiveness. As far as the east is from the west— that’s how far God throws our sins (Psalm 103:12). And that depth of forgiveness cleanses our consciences from all guilt and shame. It empowers us to love people, even our enemies, because we know how much God loves us. His forgiveness makes us into a source of strength to those in need and a beacon showing others the way back to him.

Another blessing is God’s mercy. Deeper than forgiveness for each individual sin, his mercy has to do with his compassion for us, his steadfastness and faithfulness toward us. It’s his entire disposition every time he looks at us—always wanting the best for us, always wanting to lift us up and draw us closer to his heart.

These are just a few of the blessings that we experience when we build our spiritual house on Christ and his word. Given the readings, today is a very good day to thank the Lord for laying such a strong foundation for you—and to tell him that you want to follow him with all your heart. So give him your life today, and watch as the blessings flow!

“Yes, Lord, I want to listen to you and obey your word. Come and be my rock and my foundation.”

Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion
(Deuteronomy 11:18, 26-28,32; Psalm 31:2-4,17,25; Romans 3:21-25,28; Matthew 7:21-27)

1. In the first reading, Moses offers the people a choice of a blessing or a curse – “a blessing for obeying the commandments of the Lord … a curse if you do not obey the commandments of the Lord” (Deuteronomy 11:26-27). How would you describe the blessings and curses that come from obeying and disobeying God’s commandments?

2. The responsorial psalm is an uplifting psalm that uses many terms to describe the Lord, for example, he is our rock of safety, our refuge, our deliverer, our stronghold, our rock, our fortress, and our hope. What do these terms mean to you? Which ones has the Lord actually demonstrated in your life?

3. St. Paul tells us in the second reading that “a person is justified by faith apart from works of the law” (Romans 3:28). However James tells us that “faith without works is dead” (James 2:26). How would you reconcile these two Scripture passages? What are the things in your life that tend to weaken your faith? What are the things in your life that strengthen your faith? How can you decrease the former, while increasing the latter?

4. In the Gospel, Jesus says that “everyone who listens to these words of mine but does not act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand.” Why is this so?

5. The meditation lists the blessings we receive from the Lord when we listen to and obey his word including his unconditional love, his forgiveness, and his mercy. In what ways have you experienced these blessings? What are the obstacles in your life that keep you from experiencing them more deeply? What steps can you take to overcome them?

6. Take some time now to pray for the grace to listen better to the Lord’s words and to obey them more faithfully. Use the prayer at the end of the meditation as a starting point.

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