Thursday of the First Week of Advent

Lectionary: 178

Root systems on enormous trees

A strong city have we;
he sets up walls and ramparts to protect us.
Open up the gates
to let in a nation that is just,
one that keeps faith.
A nation of firm purpose you keep in peace;
in peace, for its trust in you."

Lately I have begun to speak to the Veterans who are seeking freedom from substance abuse about “the work of spirituality.”

Some are surprised by the idea. But “developing and maintaining a reason to live” (my definition of spirituality) is very serious work indeed. It’s one thing to read a book; it’s something else to make that book the Operating System of one’s life. How long will it take to reorient all of my thinking, activities, relationships and memories to that principle; how much time, effort and sacrifice will it cost; and can I even hope to succeed?

Jesus compares the development of faith to building a house. It must be well built on the Word of God. Every other promise, principle or ideal is like sand.

Several years ago an earthquake struck Mexico City. The capital of Mexico is built where one would expect to find a city. River valleys, mountain trails and water resources often decide such things for us. But there are problems. Mexico City is built in the bowl of an ancient lake, now drained. Its bed is sand and when a large volume of sand trembles it has all the holding power of liquid. Rocks, buildings, train tracks, towers and automobiles sink.

Like the people of New Orleans, everyone in Mexico City knows this is not the place to build a city but it’s too late to change it now. “We can’t move the entire city! And if we did, another one would rise on the same spot.”

Lots of people build their faith that way. Their culture and experience tell them what to believe and how to practice their beliefs; they never encounter the Word of God. Because the human being is a religious creature, they instinctively build their faith on sand, even when they know it makes no sense. Surely God will forgive their foolishness and will hold them to a different standard than those Christians who listened “to these words of mine but (did) not act on them.”

Jesus teaches us to build our faith on the solid foundation of God’s word. If I may continue to use the metaphor of a city, some of its buildings may be set in stone, and others might not be. Likewise, some of one’s life might be set on the Word of God, while other parts – certain attitudes, relationships, habits or investments – must be torn down and rebuilt elsewhere. They cannot stand as they are, where they are.

This is work! I remind the Veterans that, as one can develop work skills and take pride in one’s work, so can spiritual workers develop the necessary skills and take both pleasure and pride in their accomplishments. We are grateful that God has shown us where to build the Holy City, and eager to build our entire lives on this solid foundation.