Gospel: December 5, 2024

December 5, 2024 (Thursday)

1st Week of Advent

Psalter: Week 1 / (Violet)

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 118: 1, 8-9, 19-21, 25-27a

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

1st Reading: Isaiah 26: 1-6

Gospel: Matthew 7: 21, 24-27

Jesus said to his disciples, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my heavenly Father.

“Therefore, anyone who hears these words of mine, and acts according to them, is like a wise man, who built his house on rock. The rain poured down, the rivers flooded, and the wind blew and struck that house. But it did not collapse, because it was built on rock. But anyone who hears these words of mine, and does not act accordingly, is like a fool who built his house on sand. The rain poured, the rivers flooded, and the wind blew and struck that house; it collapsed, and what a terrible collapse that was!”

Reflection:

“Jesus’ true disciples”

See Also

Nature, conservation in Tarlac’s ‘Belenismo’

Advent season is a time that invites us to examine our life as the followers of Jesus. We are given four weeks to grow more in terms of our knowledge of Jesus, the Word who became flesh. Moreover, Advent is also a time for us to practice what we already know about Jesus and his teachings. The Gospel passage for today tells both of correct teaching and correct practice.

The Gospel pericope appears as the ending of the Sermon on the Mount that is found in Matthew 5–7. It is in these Matthean chapters that the so-called Jesus’ teachings on discipleship are found. Today’s Gospel, in no uncertain terms, tells that the one who does the will of the heavenly Father will enter the kingdom of heaven. The true disciples will be the ones to enter the heavenly kingdom.

This indicates that there are also false disciples. Those who may know the teachings taught by Jesus but do not practice them are the false disciples (cf. Mt. 21:30). As we continue with our journey of faith this Advent, we bear in mind that Jesus’ true disciples are the ones who do not only know Jesus’ good teachings but also emulate Jesus’ good examples.