the future floods
"He may be likened to the man who, in building a house, dug deeply and laid the foundation on a rock." —Luke 6:48
Our lives are like houses which are about to face the tremendous force of floods. Only the houses with solid foundations will stand (Lk 6:48). We are well founded if we hear and do God's word (Lk 6:47). We must lay no "foundation other than the one that has been laid, namely Jesus Christ" (1 Cor 3:11). We must also be founded on the body of Christ, the Church, which is founded on the apostles and the prophets (Eph 2:20; Rv 21:14).
We build the solid foundation for our lives by giving our lives to Jesus and living our Baptisms fully. We must also be like Jesus and love the Church so much that we give up our lives for her (Eph 5:25). To have a solid foundation, we must know what the bishops, the successors of the apostles, have taught throughout the world over the centuries. Then we are able to be in submission to their authority. We must listen especially to the Pope (see Mt 16:18), who has a prophetic ministry and, with the bishops, discerns the authenticity of prophecies.
Foundations are usually built years before floods hit. Build the foundation of your life now. Build it to withstand anything.
Prayer: Father, the rivers are rising, but by Your grace I am not afraid.
Promise: "You can depend on this as worthy of full acceptance: that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners." —1 Tm 1:15
Praise: "To the King of ages, the immortal, the invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever! Amen" (1 Tm 1:17).
Reference: (For related teaching, order our book, Living In Reality.)
Nihil Obstat: Reverend Robert L. Hagedorn, February 22, 1999
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, February 24, 1999