Posted by The WORD in other words (2021) by Fr. Felmar Castrodes Fiel, SVD (DYRF, University of San Carlos, Cebu)
Saturday 23rd Week in Ordinary Time
Today’s gospel is divided into two parables: first, the parable of the tree and its fruit (Luke 6:43-45), and second, the parable of the wise and foolish builders (Luke 6:46-49).
The first parable helps us see the difference between true and false faith. From the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks (Matthew 12:34). If there is so much corruption in the heart of the person, it manifests in negative words and actions. If there is much gratitude and peace in the heart, it radiates positivity and goodness.
The second parable helps us see the difference between true and false disciples. The faithful disciples of Christ do not only call on Him but are also obedient to His commands. Deuteronomy 11:26-28 summarizes it like this: “Obey and you will be blessed. Disobey and you will be cursed.” This obedience is likened to a person building his house on a rock foundation, while the other way around is compared to a foolish builder whose house is doomed for destruction.
When a series of earthquakes hit Mindanao in the last quarter of 2019, I immediately called up my family in Davao del Sur. You see, our village is only 1.2 kilometers from the Makilala (North Cotabato) to Malungon (Saranggani Province) faultline. Upon knowing that my family was safe, I asked about the status of our home because it was an old, rustic ancestral house. Thank God, no cracks whatsoever! I found out later that when it was constructed, our grandparents made sure that it has a strong foundation and could withstand strong movements from the ground.
How firmly do we anchor our life to the Rock Jesus? Do we carefully put into practice the faith that we preach? What particular teachings of Christ did we build our lives on? Indeed, in following Christ, we may face many storms, but with strong foundations, we can be assured that we will not be swept away.
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