The House, Built on the Sand

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

*Ordinary Season:  Twelveth  Week :  Thursday*

*Gospel : Mt 7:21-29*

*First Reading : Gn 16:1-12, 15-16 or 16:6b-12, 15-16*

*Responsorial Psalm : 106:1b-2, 3-4a, 4b-5*

*The House, Built on the Sand*

*1) The Sand is Easy and Convenient*

Building on sand is faster, easier, and more convenient. 

It requires less effort, less time, and no deep digging.

Spiritually, this reflects those who choose the path of comfort, surface-level faith, or immediate gratification, avoiding the hard work of deep discipleship.

Luke 6:48 mentions the wise man "dug deep" to lay the foundation—true spiritual life requires digging deep into God’s Word and obedience.

*2) The Sand Represents an Unstable Foundation*

Sand shifts, changes, and cannot hold weight in storms.

If someone builds their life on emotions, trends, wealth, fame, or shallow faith, they will not stand when trials come.

The foolish builder may have had a beautiful house—but the foundation was weak. 

That’s the deception of external success without internal substance.

*3) He Heard the Word—but Didn't Obey*

Jesus explicitly says this person heard His words but didn’t do them.

This is a warning for believers who attend church, read scripture, but don’t live by it. 

Knowing the truth without practicing it leads to collapse.

James 1:22: “Do not merely listen to the word… Do what it says.”

*4) Appearances Can Be Deceptive*

Both houses likely looked the same—until the storm hit.

Storms (trials, suffering, judgment) reveal what kind of foundation we’ve really built our life on.

The parable reminds us not to focus just on outward appearances but on what is unseen—character, integrity, obedience.

*5) The Foolishness Is Willful*

The person isn’t “ignorant” but deliberately chooses a weak foundation. This shows rebellion, not just naivety.

Jesus ends the Sermon on the Mount with this image to say: “You’ve heard my teaching—what will you now do with it?”

*6) Final Thought*

He was foolish in a spiritual and moral sense, knowing what is right but refusing to live it out. 

Jesus uses this image to urge His listeners: Don’t just admire My words. Build your life on them.

Are you building on the Rock (obedience), or on the Sand (convenience)?

The storm is coming—not to destroy us, but to test what we’ve built.

*Think about it*

*God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your dear ones*

*Fr Maxim DSouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*