9th Sunday - A

Commentary
Matthew 7: 21-27

Listen to and Act on These Words of Mine

For 6 Sundays now we have been reading from and listening to Jesus' Sermon on the Mount (Matthew chapters 5 - 7).

From the beginning, it is clear that the message of this sermon is intended for all disciples of Jesus, not any selected few (4th Sunday - Year A). Every Christian is called and empowered to be the light of the world and salt of the earth (5th Sunday). The model for this way of living is Jesus Christ himself. Christians are called not to observe or follow some sets of rules and regulations, but to follow a person - Jesus Christ, the Son of God (6th Sunday).

Like Jesus, all Christians are called and sent to bring God's love and salvation to all people (Week 7). That should be the only concern of our lives if we truly have God as our Master (Week 8).

And today, we have come to the conclusion of this sermon, which is the longest of Jesus' 5 "major speeches" in Matthew [1].

The conclusion is, "Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock."

"These words" refer to all that Jesus teaches us as the new way of living our life as children of God.

More accurately, Jesus is God's Word who came to live among us. He is the Word we are all called to listen to and follow. The better we follow Him, the better we are as light of the world and salt of the earth. Then, we become the signs and instruments of God's salvation to all people.
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[1] Daniel Harrington, SJ. The Gospel of Matthew, Sacra Pagina Series. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 1991; p. 76.