Foundation on Rock

He also told them a parable: ‘Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit? A disciple is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully qualified will be like the teacher. Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to your neighbor, “Friend, let me take out the speck in your eye”, when you yourself do not see the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor’s eye. ‘No good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit; for each tree is known by its own fruit. Figs are not gathered from thorns, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. The good person out of the good treasure of the heart produces good, and the evil person out of evil treasure produces evil; for it is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks. ‘Why do you call me “Lord, Lord”, and do not do what I tell you? I will show you what someone is like who comes to me, hears my words, and acts on them. That one is like a man building a house, who dug deeply and laid the foundation on rock; when a flood arose, the river burst against that house but could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who hears and does not act is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the river burst against it, immediately it fell, and great was the ruin of that house.’ Luke 6:39-49

I vividly remember, as a small child, seeing the aftermath of a nor'easter in our little town by the ocean. Some cottages were completely gone, and there were toilets, appliances and wood floating in the streets. Bricks were everywhere as the Chelsea Hotel near the beach had fallen into the ocean and scattered. Our home, from 1820, now bulldozed, was built back from the sea, with a deep and solid foundation. This once humble little town has become very posh, and people continue to build huge houses without foundations on the sand. Jesus invites us to see this image as a sign of our fragile humanity. We can love and build strong foundations of understanding, or, we can be selfish and foolhardy and go it alone.

Loving Creator, you teach us the way

your heart is the foundation of goodness

your way is the path of life renewed

and we look to you morning by morning.

Too often, our pride and greed take over

we forget the fragile balance of this life

we assume we have full control of our lives

and forget you in our desire to be in charge.

Day by day you remind us to build carefully

with humble hearts and relying on one another

help us to see your blessings in our labor

and help us to love the labor given us here. Amen.