Thursday of the First Week of Advent
St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits), said that “love should be manifested in deeds rather than in words.” In the musical Fiddler on the Roof, Tevye asks his wife Golde whether she loves him. She answers by saying, “For twenty-five years I’ve washed your clothes, cooked your meals, cleaned the house, given you children, milked your cow. She asks then, if that’s not love, what is?” Of course love does not simply mean performing a list of duties for someone, but rather love must be wedded to the deed. Love is a feeling that expresses itself in action.
In today’s gospel, Jesus praises good deeds over good intentions that are never carried out. He delivers a sharp message to illustrate the difference between true and false discipleship with a story of a wise and foolish builder. “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” (Matthew 7: 24-27). Jesus’s answer is clear. True discipleship is only as strong as the foundation on which it is built. What steps have we taken to build a strong foundation so that we can live out our Christian discipleship? Our salvation depends upon our ability to act according to will of God. We are called to be His humble servants. As the prophet Isaiah strongly reminds us in today’s first reading, the poor will walk on the dust of those who have been brought down from their high places and humbled.
As we search for practical ways to humble ourselves here and now, let us start with our parish’s invitation to participate in 25 acts of love during Advent. As we perform each act of love, may we be more aware that love flows into the world by our actions. During the Advent season, let us purposely choose to slow down and be still. Through prayer, may the distractions of the season fade so our hearts can more clearly hear God’s call for us. Let us pray: Lord, you are our rock and strength. Help us to be like the wise builder, so that no storm can destroy our faith. As we prepare for the joy and hope of Christ's birth, let our words of love be demonstrated in our way of living.
-Jessica Gabrielli