Saturday, 23rd Week OT - Fr Alberic Maisog

Lk 6:43-49

*A certain foreign building contractor wanted to give a government official a sports car, in order to help him get a big government project.

-The official objected saying, “Sir, common decency, my Christian upbringing, the leadership code, and my basic sense of personal honor – all these would never permit me to accept a valuable gift like that. It would amount to bribery and corruption.”

-The contractor pauses for a while & said, “I quite understand. But suppose we do this: “I’ll sell you the sports car for ten dollars.”

-The official thought for a moment, and then he said, “Well, In that case, “I’ll take two.” (Quote)

-It has been pointed out that one of the dangers to discipleship is that living our lives without a firm foundation.

-The parable of the two builders in today’s Gospel draws the contrast between doers of the Word & those who are hearers only. St. Luke makes the point graphically. The wise builder dug deeply & laid the foundation on rock.

-The parable teaches the importance of laying the right foundation for life, & the only true foundation is obedience to the teaching of Christ; to be pleaser of God more than pleaser of people.

-We have to dig deep & lay the foundation of our life on the word of God that we may be able to withstand against the trials & difficulties in life. Many have found that faith in God was the only thing that gave them the strength to keep on going, renew their hope, & make a new beginning.

-We do not choose whether we will face severe storms in life, we only get to choose the foundation on which we stand.

-What made the foolish builder choose so unwisely? Perhaps he was short-sighted. He never troubled to think what his chosen site would be like 6 months afterwards.

-In every decision in life there is a short view & a long view; hence happy is the person who never barters future good for present pleasure. Happy is the person who sees things, not in the light of this present world, but in the light of eternity.

-When we learn that the hard way is often the best way, & that the long view is always the rewarding view, then we will make the foundation of our lives upon the word of God, & even if the storms of adversities, calamities, & distress will ever shake them it will not collapse for it has been founded upon the rock, Christ Jesus Himself.