~~~ Isaiah 26:1-6 ~~~ Psalm 118 ~~~ Matthew 7:21, 24-27 ~~~
Most of the time when I read the Bible I try to visualize the scene,
that is after all what comprehension is all about.
Today there were a couple images used that conjured very vivid pictures
because of events we have experienced in recent years.
Isaiah speaks of the Lord being like a Rock.
No matter how firm your foundation.
No matter how safe you believe your city to be God can bring it down.
"...He humbles those in high places,
and the lofty city he brings down;
He tumbles it to the ground,
levels it with the dust."
and the lofty city he brings down;
He tumbles it to the ground,
levels it with the dust."
On the terrible day the twin towers tumbled to the ground the dust created
as they fell was unbelievable.
The scene of people running trying to escape the huge cloud
of dust and debris was frightening.
While I certainly do not believe this was an act of punishment from God;
nevertheless it provides more meaning for these words from the prophet, Isaiah.
"Trust in the Lord"
is the advice from the prophet.
God is really the only one we can completely trust.
The psalmist echoes the same message...
"...It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in man."
than to trust in man."
Build your faith and beliefs on the Lord.
Hear his words and act accordingly.
The word of the Lord is constant and firm as the Rock of Gibraltar.
When you build upon trusting in God you are
free to act according to his will.
If you do not place your trust solely in the Lord you are left
to the unpredictablity of yourself and others around you.
If you do not put your trust in the Lord
you will be like the house washed away from the recent hurricane
on the northeast coast.
When the storms of life hit and shake you to your foundation.
It is then that you take notice of whether or not you have built
on firm rock solid ground.
Throughout the liturgical cycle of readings
we are reminded time and time again to trust in the Lord.
Why, you might ask do we need to be reminded repeatedly
about something that makes so much sense.
Somehow as we go about our day to day routines we begin to rely
more and more on ourselves and our
accomplishmentsin this world.
It takes something as visual as being chased down by a cloud of dust
to bring us to our knees in the reality that we
only have God.
He is the only one who is deserving of our complete trust.
The word of God never lies to us.
The word of God is never designed to trick or deceive us.
The word of God is always the basis and foundation of all truth.
If we cannot trust God
then who is it that we can trust?
Saint Nicholas, pray for us,
especially during this season of Advent.
It truly is in giving that we receive.
Teach us to trust in the Divine Providence.
