BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE
“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.” - Mt 7:21, 24-27
Today’s Gospel from Matthew, struck a chord with me – Is my house built on rock or sand? Is my faith strong enough to weather the pandemic and political storm of 2020? If the storm continues to blow, am I prepared?
There’s a reason this Gospel message comes to us during Advent; it’s the season in the Church for preparation, a time of active waiting.
2020 started with the fires in the bush of Australia, quickly followed by a global pandemic, in the US we experienced political unrest, churches were closed, masks were mandated, fires blazed in the western states, hurricanes destroyed the coastal regions in the Gulf – we have lived many, many storms this year. Much like we prepare our physical homes during hurricane and fire season, Advent invites us to prepare our hearts, to be ready for the storm because there is a Light waiting for us at the end.
This year has been a different kind of storm, one that has raged in my heart. A storm of anxiety and panic as people I loved, got sick with COVID, a storm of questioning as people in the Catholic Church spewed hate and engaged in violence, instead of love, but mostly, a storm of sadness and dismay. These storms have left me questioning my faith, have left me wondering – does the God I love and serve, does He see my house built on rock or sand?
But my faith and hope in the good, in choosing to do the right thing, remind me that my house is built on rock – and while the storm may seem difficult to weather, I choose to batten down the hatches this Advent, and get ready for the coming of the King. There will be an end to this storm and I pray, Jesus finds me waiting on the rock.
This Advent, how is Jesus inviting you to wait?
Natalie Nathan