Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Matthew 5:1-12a

 

So you want to build a house.  Step one: clear the land.  Get rid of the rocks, the stones, the bushes, the trees.  Even out the uneven spots and dig a little to prepare for the foundation.  Step two:  Pour the foundation. The thing which will anchor the structure and give it strength and endurance.  Step three:  build the house according to the blueprint.  The blueprint which lays out the dimensions, the designs, the rooms, the windows, the doors, the electrical wiring, the pipes, etc.  If you start building without a well thought out blueprint your house will look like some lopsided structure out of a Dr. Seuss book.  And it won’t last long, most likely, because it won’t be structurally sound.

 

And so it is when we build a life of faith; when we build a relationship with our God.  First, as we saw during Advent, we need to clear the land of anything that will stand in the way of our relationship with Our Lord.  Only by ridding ourselves of these obstacles will we be able to receive and embrace God’s love for us.  Knowing we are loved by God is certainly “step one” in our faith.  Then, lay the foundation.  The Ten Commandments are the foundation of our faith. Certainly knowing what not to do in faith is important (thou shalt not lie, steal, kill, covet) but knowing what’s most important – I am the Lord thy God, thou shall have no other gods before me – is key.  The all knowing, all powerful and all loving God is first and foremost.  A foundation.  Then, the blueprint: the Beatitudes. In the Beatitudes Jesus presents to us everything that is needed to build a life of faith, and to make sure it is structurally sound. 

 

It is important to note that each of the eight blessings have something in common.  They each require that we surrender ourselves to God and turn away from what human nature and society tell us. Human nature and society tell us to take charge.  Be the master of your fate, the captain of your destiny.  Take care of number one.  Self-reliance; self-determination. But the beatitudes are a blueprint written with the ink of humility. Put God, and those created in God’s image first.  Only then will our house of faith be structurally sound.

 

One final thought:  What kind of house of faith do I want to build?  One where I can easily lock all the doors and windows to keep others out?  Or one where all are welcome.  A house where hatred, selfishness and discord are discussed and practiced?  Or one where all can find a safe haven with love, mercy, peace, hope and comfort?

 

We have the blueprint.  Let’s go to work.

 

 

“Call Me Ishmael”