The lesson in today’s Gospel could be a shocker. Saying prayers is no guarantee to get to heaven. “Hallowed be thy name” is followed by “thy will be done.” In other words, prayer cannot be separated from the welfare and needs of those he has placed about us, nor from our daily work-day agenda. We must build our lives on a rock, not on soggy soil.
What’s the formula? Living the Gospel seriously each day. It’s the armor Jesus gives us to face and accept challenges. We can’t prevent them from taking place, but praying daily over what Jesus tells us in our scriptural readings enables us to meet the bumps of life with confidence, faith, hope and especially, love for those who either are, or who create the bumps.
Advent is the special time given to us to renew our resolve to build our lives on rock, to know better the Almighty God, who was born man in a stable. The Church of these times has a special need for strong men and women whose lives are built on rock to enable it to meet the forces of evil that seem to prevail so easily in our decaying society.
Resolve: I will say some special prayers today for so many Christian people through the world who struggle with oppressive hardships that challenge their faith and hope, that the Lord give them the armor of perseverance, confidence and love of neighbor.