Location, Location, Location
9th Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)
2008-06-01
Matthew 7:21-27Location…location…location.
That old real estate axiom is still alive and well today. Every real estate agent will tell you these are the 3 most important things in evaluating a potential home purchase. What most real estate agents won’t tell you, however, was that this bit of wisdom was actually written by the premiere real estate agent, Christ Himself, right here in today’s gospel reading.
Jesus is taking us on a tour of two potential home sites. We can assume that they are both similar in size, materials, amenities and price. Both have a big back yard, a private water well, and a spacious camel corral. And, both are virtually free of sand fleas and Mediterranean biting flies. They sound wonderful don’t they?
There is one big difference, however. Well, actually three…Location…location…location.
The first house was built by a wise contractor. Wise because he chose rock to build upon. Why is that important? Well, Jesus tells us.
There’s a storm brewing. The rains will come, the floods will rise, the winds will blow and hurl themselves against the walls of the house. But, that house will stand, because it’s foundation is rock-solid.
Nice selling feature.
Now let’s take a look at the second house. It was built by a, well, “not-so-wise” contractor. He built it on a sandy foundation. What happens when the storm hits that house? Jesus, being an honest real estate agent provides full disclosure and tells us the truth.
The rains will come, the floods will rise, the winds will blow and hurl themselves against the walls of the house. Unfortunately, that house will fall, having nothing to support it during the tumult of the storm.
Not such a nice selling feature.
Well, hopefully it’s obvious which house we want to live in, which foundation we want our house to be built upon, which is the best “location.”
OK. OK. So, maybe we should forget about Jesus being a real-estate agent. I admit that’s a bit of a stretch. After all, He’s not trying to sell us something. But, He is trying to tell us something.
Jesus is painting a picture for us…a picture of life.
The image of the storm represents everything bad that can happen to us. We don’t ask for it, it just happens. Family crises, financial setbacks, natural disasters, sickness, poverty, famine, war – all of these seem to happen most when we least expect them. Even if we think we’re immune from attack…physical, spiritual, emotional…whatever life can throw at you, Jesus tells us that the rains, floods and winds are going to come.
And, the image of the house offers the perfect depiction of our strength, our spirit, our character, our very soul. It warms us in the cold winter of our lives and keeps us dry when the rains of doubt pour over us. It is who we are to others. It defines us to the outside world.
So, working with these two images – storm and house, world and identity – if our house is on a firm foundation…if we live a life founded on the Rock of Christ Jesus, the Way, the Truth and the Life, we can survive any storm that comes our way.
But, if we live a life in the shifting sands of moral relativism, the shadow of sin, in uncertainty and hopelessness, when the winds of despair blow against the walls of our soul, we are doomed to fall in splinters to the ground.
So what makes our foundation firm? What is it that keeps our house – our life – from falling like a house of cards? The quick answer is…Jesus.
But, the practical ones among us ask, “Wait a second, that sounds fine…Jesus needs to be in my life. I hear you. But, I need a little more information. I mean, how do I actually let Jesus into my life? How do I live a life on the Rock?”
Well, Jesus offers us a straight – and insightful – answer earlier in this same gospel passage. He tells us that, “It is not those who say to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ who will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the person who does the will of my Father in heaven.”
Hear it again.
“The person who does the will of my Father.”
He didn’t say, “The person who believes in my Father or speaks highly of my Father.”
You see, we can’t do it with words alone. To simply say it will not make it so. No profession of faith or confession of belief is enough. No, it takes action. It takes work.
And, just like the contractor building his house, we have to build our relationship with Christ…brick by spiritual brick, and stone by corporal stone.
The story is told of a poor old man who lay sick in his barren, run-down shack. Holes in the walls and roof allowed the cold, damp weather to seep in, exacerbating the old man’s symptoms.
A doctor was called to see what could be done for the sick man. He entered the house and immediately ran a battery of tests. He then knowingly declared that the man was suffering from lack of food and exposure to all kinds of weather.
Then came a learned professor who lectured the man on the nature of nutrition. He described how the constant waste of the tissues of the body required a constant new supply of food.
Next came a man with a tender heart who was so affected by the mere sight of the suffering old gentleman that he shuddered and wept as he learned the story of his poverty and sickness. He had to leave with his handkerchief pressed to his crying eyes. He could barely enjoy his evening meal and warm fire knowing that the poor old man had neither food, nor fire.
Following him came a man who was filled with anger and indignation at the pitiable sight, who declared loudly that this was a terrible injustice, and that there should be a law put in place up to help men like this.
At last came a man who made no profession of wisdom, who had no lofty degrees, who did not weep or shout, a man who was poor in this world’s goods, but rich in charity. He hurried home, and returned with half of the few cans of food in his pantry. He rolled up his sleeves and with some scrap lumber patched up the roof and walls. He watched beside – and waited upon – the old man every moment he could spare. And the sick man became well – not by science, not by knowledge, not by tears, not by laws…but, by charity.
Jesus has called each of us. Not only to know Him, but to love Him and to do so by loving others in His name. This is the “firm foundation.” This is a life lived on the Rock.
When we choose a house in which to dwell…let us forever remember what it’s all about…
Location…location…location.