“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.
In our time, everyone who listens to these words must recognize the metaphor of infrastructure. And with that recognition they also feel an anxious awareness that many of our roads, bridges, sewers, water mains, and buildings are disintegrating. As are spiritual infrastructures like courtesy, morals, respect for law, and reliable workmanship.
All, in a sense, are built with the same material; and that is the word we speak to one another. When contractors say they will build the school according to the blueprints of a trustworthy architect with with quality materials and reliable workmanship we must believe in their word before we allow our children to enter the building.
The world of our everyday existence -- described as anthropocene -- is built on the integrity of the human word. Virtually no one lives outside the world we have created. As it becomes continually more complex, we must trust one another all the more. And that, of course, leaves everyone more vulnerable to mistakes, mischief, and calculated terror; as when the Russian military targets Ukrainian power plants, and blockades shipments of grain to African nations.
The faithless trust no one, "neither God nor men;" and, for that reason, become untrustworthy. Their loss of religious faith bleeds into the loss of both faith in other people and their personal integrity. We have seen that in Mr. Trump's disciples as they doubt any election they didn't win, and threaten to dismantle democracy altogether.
“Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock."
Catholics can no longer afford the practice of a "private faith." There is no such thing; faith is always public and apparent to others. The world depends upon our fidelity to the Word of God. We welcome it whenever we listen to the truth, no matter how unpleasant. We announce it whenever we speak the truth, no matter how hard.
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.