The Institute for Christian Formation
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Thursday of the First Week of Advent
December 5, 2013
We should trust the Lord, because he is an eternal rock. That is what our First Reading, Isaiah 26:1-6, tells us. Today’s Gospel (Matthew 7:21,24-27) is the well-known story about the wise man who built his house on solid rock, as opposed to the foolish man who built his house on sand. You can access today’s readings here. This Gospel passage tells us that those who listen to Jesus’ words and act on them will be like the wise man, whereas those who listen to Jesus’ words and do not act on them will be like the fool.
Jesus Christ is the Word of God, the Word made flesh (see John chapter 1). And Scripture is the Word of God. Jesus Christ, the Word of God, is revealed to us in the Scriptures, the Word of God! So as our Gospel today tells us, it is imperative that we not only listen to the Word of God, but act on this Word.
Don’t forget to leave your shoes out tonight for an overnight visit from Saint Nicholas, whose feast we celebrate tomorrow!
Pantocrator
Early 18th Century, Bulgarian
Nativity Church, Arbanassi, Bulgaria
We are in the first week of our new liturgical year. In our Church we follow a three-year Sunday lectionary cycle. In this 2014 Liturgical year, which began this past Sunday, we are in Lectionary Cycle A – the Year of Matthew. This is a good time to take stock of how we listen to God’s Word, and how we act on that Word.
There is a wonderful method of praying the Scriptures called “Lectio Divina.” This involves engaging with the Biblical text in a four-step process: What is a particular Scripture passage saying?; What is the passage saying to me?; What do I want to say to God about this text?; and, How am I going to act on this text in my life? We are dealing with reading, meditation, prayer, and contemplation. In the video below, published July 24, 2013 for World Youth Day, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) asked Father James Martin, SJ, to address youth on the topic of praying with Scripture via the practice of “lectio divina.”
For Catechetical Sunday 2009, the USCCB also published some articles on Scripture and the practice of lectio divina. You can download, “Ever Ancient, Ever New: The Art and Practice of Lectio Divina,” here. And you can download, “Sharing the Word of God at Home,” here.
If you have children, and/or are a catechist/teacher, take some time this Advent to teach these youth the practice of praying with Scripture using lectio divina.
As we mentioned earlier, in this new Liturgical Year we are in Lectionary Cycle A – the Year of Matthew. The video below is a good, brief introduction to the Gospel of Matthew.
Loyola Press publishes “Sunday Connection” online, which provides background and activities to better understand the upcoming Sunday’s Scripture readings. This is a great resource, as it provides links to the actual readings, background to the readings, and then reflections for families, as well as students. (They even break down the student reflections for grades 1-3, grades 4-6, and grades 7 & 8). Check out this feature here.
Take some time each day during Advent and this entire new Church Year to listen to, and act upon, God’s word. Be like the wise man and build your house on rock, because the Lord is our eternal Rock!
