Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time – Wilson SVD
Listen and Act and Transform
The sermon on the mount comes to a
conclusion with today’s Gospel reading. Jesu concludes the sermon on the mount with
the parable of two builders building their houses upon rock and sand.
Jesu was an expert, not only in
the scriptures and preaching but also in practical matters of life. Jesus speaks
of the foundations of a house in today’s gospel. I am sure, he knew well what
he was talking about. His explanation is of a practical man. Building a house
requires proper planning, resources and hard work. House is built for many generations. No one builds a house intending to be destroyed soon. Building a house is an
expert activity and similarly building life is also a skilful activity. Planning,
resources and hard work are required for a successful living. No one lives wishing
to die. It is easy to build a house on the sandy ground, less of digging down
but disaster lay ahead inevitably.
Jesus dismisses the people after
a long sermon admonishing them to be ‘doers’ and not mere ‘hearers’ of Word of
God. The Greek word ἀκούω – akuo points to not just peripheral hearing but active listening to something, paying undivided
attention to, listening to comprehend and understand. It is not casual hearing.
We hear but we do not
listen: one
of the difficulties that we face in the modern world is that we hear and we do
not listen. Listening leads to understanding and understanding produces
knowledge. We hear many things/sounds, but we fail to listen to. Jesus
demands that we should listen. Word of God is the source of life, listening to Word
of God is a requisite for a successful living.
Translate into action: Knowledge
becomes relevant and meaningful when it is translated into action. Jesus demands
that we do not stop at listening but move to action. Knowledge gives us awareness, and awareness leads to action. Action transforms life and people. Knowledge must
become action, theory must become practice, and the world of God must become life. There is no usefulness in going to a doctor and not doing what he asks you to
do.
The wise builder knows well where and
how to build a house. A follower of Jesus is wise because, he/she knows well that the
Word of God is to be translated into action, produce manifold fruits staying
through storms and summers.
Take Away for us:
Listening leads to Understanding
Understanding produces Knowledge
Knowledge brings Awareness
Awareness propels Action
Action Transforms
Wilson SVD
Divine Word Missionary
I am happy to learn that you have started to share your biblical thoughts.
ReplyDeleteKnowledge when converted into useful work gives wisdom based on lived experience. This wisdom stays in human conscience. One should go beyond knowledge to build one's life