A simple yet powerful Advent homily on Matthew 7:21, 24 to 27 that shows how a life rooted in God’s word can withstand every storm. (4-12-25)
Praise be to Jesus Christ
There were two young people who had been close friends for many years. Everyone believed their long friendship would surely help them build a strong marriage. They enjoyed each other’s company and spent many happy moments together. After some time they decided to get married. But within a short period their life together broke apart. People were shocked because a relationship that looked so beautiful fell so quickly. Later someone who knew them well said that their bond had been only on the surface. They enjoyed the outside part of the relationship, but they never built anything deep inside. They did not learn to forgive, they did not build trust, and they never spoke honestly about their fears or dreams. Their relationship looked good from outside, but there was no foundation. When difficulties came, the whole house of their marriage collapsed. The wounds that followed were painful because nothing strong was holding them together.
This is exactly what Jesus explains in today’s Gospel. A house built on rock stands firm. A house built on sand collapses. Jesus is not simply talking about buildings. He is talking about the hidden part of our life. The beauty of a house is seen in the paint, but the strength of a house is hidden under the soil. In the same way the strength of our Christian life is not in what people see. It is in what only God sees. Our prayers, our parish work, and our religious activities may look beautiful. But obedience to God’s word, sincerity of heart, humility, and love are the deeper foundation.
The Old Testament teaches the same lesson. God says through the prophet, “Listen to my voice, and I will be your God and you will be my people” (Jeremiah 7:23). When Israel listened, they walked safely even in the desert. When they refused to listen, their life shook like a house without a base. Their greatest problem was not their enemies. Their problem was a weak foundation.
On this fourth day of Advent, Jesus invites us to check our own foundation. Families need a strong foundation. A family does not become strong because of money or comfort. It becomes strong when husband and wife build on truth, respect, forgiveness, and prayer. A family that prays together has deep roots. A family that forgives quickly does not break easily. But when truth and prayer are missing, even a small problem becomes a storm that shakes everything.
Youth also need a strong foundation. A young person may look confident, but if there is no foundation of discipline, purity of heart, respect for parents, and control over habits, the first storm of temptation or failure can break the person. Youth is the time to build deep foundations that will carry a person for the rest of life.
Priests and religious need a strong foundation too. A vocation does not stand firm because of talents or activities. It stands firm because of hidden prayer, humility, sacrifice, and obedience. When the roots are deep, misunderstandings, loneliness, or spiritual dryness cannot shake the heart.
Advent is a season to rebuild our foundation. We sweep our houses, we decorate our rooms, but Jesus asks us to clean the inside. Anger, jealousy, gossip, lies, and pride are like soft sand under a house. If we hide them, one day a storm will reveal them. But if we open our hearts to the word of God, the Lord strengthens the part of us no one sees.
A wise person once said, “Storms do not break strong houses. Storms show what the house is built on.” When our life is built on Jesus, the storms of life will not defeat us. They will only reveal the strength of His grace.
Jesus Christ make our foundation of Christian life strong.
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God Bless…
