Build your house upon a rock

On that day many will say to me, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many deeds of power in your name?” Then I will declare to them, “I never knew you; go away from me, you evildoers.”

‘Everyone then who hears 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 beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell—and great was its fall!’

Now when Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.

- Matthew 7:22-29

Yesterday's reading ended with verse 21: ‘Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord”, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only one who does the will of my Father in heaven.' Today's selection begins with the verses that follow: 'On that day many will say to me, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many deeds of power in your name?” Then I will declare to them, “I never knew you; go away from me, you evildoers.”' Here in these verses, Jesus makes it clear that he is speaking of final judgment with the words "on that day." So, he is declaring himself Lord, expressing his sonship and also his knowledge of the Father's will. Moreover he declares himself Judge, and therefore divine. Only God can give this judgment. What is striking to me, personally, is his exposition of deeds of power done in his name by those whom he will refuse to recognize. It tells me that in our practice of discernment, it is not through great deeds of power that we recognize true teachers. Jesus refers to prophesy, casting out of demons, and many other deeds of power - all done by those whom he has called "wolves in sheep's clothing." Therefore we are to take note. We do not judge as "fruits" spectacular expressions of power.

‘Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock...' Jesus begins his conclusion to the Sermon on the Mount with these words. His words here, about following his advice and acting on his words, is a warning about the whole of his teaching in this Sermon. Summing up with words about Judgment, he's reminding us of our jobs. We are to practice love and mercy. We are to remember what it is to be a part of the fulfillment of the Law: to guard against sinful anger and provoking others needlessly, to refrain from dwelling on our own passions rather than making thoughtful choices, to be self-aware. We must remember what it is to pray and worship, and how we are to practice our piety in private. We are to remember that we will be measured with the measure we give; we'll receive the mercy and forgiveness that we practice. We are to be peacemakers. And the beginning of this Sermon on the Mount, the Beatitudes. We must remember that we are blessed: in all manner of struggle and difficulty, we continue to be blessed. All of Jesus' words are those that we must live by in order to build our house upon this rock, this foundation of which he speaks here.

There's a double warning here: as it follows that by heeding these words in the Sermon on the Mount, we build our lives upon a solid foundation, our houses upon rock - so it also follows that if we hear these words and fail to follow them, so will we fail. Our foundation will fail. I have heard it said that Jesus' words about the wind and rain and floods are about the difficulties of life, the times that test our faith. We will fail to withstand them if we have not set our internal spiritual houses upon these words - to seek first the kingdom; and to ask and seek and knock. We are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. We must continue to do what we need to do to retain our savor and to shine our light.

Now when Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes. In addition to the tremendous Sermon and all of its teachings to us, there is yet another thing revealed: Jesus' authority. In addition to what he has taught, we are to learn that this teaching comes from one whom we call Lord. His authority is not from a sacred school of teaching, not conferred by "the world." This is an inner authority, conferred by Sonship, by Spirit, by the Father. Of himself, Jesus can speak with spiritual power and authority. It is something conferred and transmitted directly to others in his presence who perceive this reality through his speech. Can you hear it in these words? Are they meaningful to you? Do they ring in your heart? Whatever else you may think, do the words and teachings here ring of truth to you?