THURSDAY OF THE FIRST WEEK OF ADVENT - Gospel (Mt 7:21.24-27) - THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

“Not everyone who says to me: 'Lord! Lord!' will enter the Kingdom of heaven.” (Mt 7:21)

FIRST READING - Is 26:1-6

A reading from the Book of Isaiah

On that day they will sing this song in the land of Judah:

"A strong city have we;

he sets up walls and ramparts to protect us.

Open up the gates

to let in a nation that is just,

one that keeps faith.

A nation of firm purpose you keep in peace;

in peace, for its trust in you."

Trust in the LORD forever!

For the LORD is an eternal Rock.

He humbles those in high places,

and the lofty city he brings down;

He tumbles it to the ground,

levels it with the dust.

It is trampled underfoot by the needy,

by the footsteps of the poor.

GOSPEL OF THE DAY - Mt 7:21, 24-27

From the Gospel according to Matthew

Jesus said to his disciples:

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,'

will enter the Kingdom of heaven,

but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.

"Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them

will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.

The rain fell, the floods came,

and the winds blew and buffeted the house.

But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock.

And everyone who listens to these words of mine

but does not act on them

will be like a fool who built his house on sand.

The rain fell, the floods came,

and the winds blew and buffeted the house.

And it collapsed and was completely ruined."

THURSDAY OF THE FIRST WEEK OF ADVENT - Gospel (Mt 7:21.24-27)

THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

Dear People of God,

The Word of God today is given to all humanity: It is the image of the Son of God, a true Man, noble and great, who came down to earth and became a human being to be with and accompany humans, and to give the very Word of God the Father to teach humans.

Every person, when born into this world, has the Word of God engraved in their hearts; because everyone is given by God a loving heart, a clean, upright and true conscience; God said that the conscience of a person is the Word of God placed there, the voice of conscience will always remind people to do good and avoid evil, to live a good life, and to eliminate evil.

Today, God wants all humanity to know how to listen and practice the Word of God. Whoever is wise enough to practice according to God's teachings, to live a life of truth, holiness, and forgiveness, will always be protected, preserved, and loved by God. God has always accompanied and been with people; therefore, each person is protected and sheltered by God; He never abandons any soul in His loving arms. God reminds people that those who are walking in darkness, walking on the path of sin, are rejecting God, are eliminating His Word from their lives. God invites those who are living in that state of sin to stand up, run to the light of God, so that the Word of God becomes a lamp to illuminate and show the way for people to avoid getting lost. Thus, the Word itself will lead that person to live and practice according to the Truth; and thanks to the Truth, people will be saved from the captivity of Satan. If anyone only listens without putting it into practice, they will easily be controlled by Satan and their souls will be taken away, both in this life and in the next.

Therefore, today, God calls on all mankind:

Each person must listen and practice the Word of God, so that He can save and bring eternal life to their souls, when He calls them out of this world.

People must not fall into Satan's traps, do not walk in darkness, do not live on the path of sin. Be courageous to stand up, determined to return and practice the Word of God, so that Satan cannot take that person's soul from the loving arms of God, the Father of all.

Only by listening to the Word of God and putting it into practice can people stand firm in love, stand firm in the Truth and eternal life that God will give to each person in His Kingdom.

Thanks be to God. Amen.