Even more, the Word of God is the foundation of everything, it is the true reality. And to be realistic, we must rely upon this reality. We must change our notion that matter, solid things, things we can touch, is the most solid, the most certain reality. At the end of the Sermon on the Mount, the Lord speaks to us about the two possible foundations for building the house of one’s life: sand and rock. He who builds on sand only builds on visible and tangible things, on success, on career, on money. Apparently these are the true realities. But all this one day will vanish. We can see this now with the fall of two large banks: this money disappears, it is nothing. And thus all things, which seem to be the true realities we can count on, are only realities of a secondary order. Who builds his life on these realities, on matter, on success, on appearances, builds upon sand. Only the Word of God is the foundation of all reality, it is as stable as the heavens and more than the heavens, it is reality. Therefore, we must change our concept of realism. The realist is he who recognizes the Word of God, in this apparently weak reality, as the foundation of all things. Realist is he who builds his life on this foundation, which is permanent. Thus the first verses of the Psalm invites us to discover what reality is and how to find the foundation of our life, how to build life.
First general congregation of the world Synod of Bishops
on “The Word of God in the Life and Mission of the Church.”
Rome – October 7, 2008.
(Via Wheat & Weeds)
AMEN!!!
Especially in our highly affluent society, it’s easy to see physical loss as an “end of the world” of sorts. As I’ve taken part in discussions at work the last few days about how the economic situation will affect our sales in the coming months — and thus implicitly whether there will be layoffs at our company — it’s easy to see the recession in apocalyptic terms. And so it’s important to be reminded that what is most precious and most real in our existence is not in a paycheck, a house, a car, or whatever other possessions give us a sense of status and well being. The most real thing that we experience is the mass; the realities of sin, virtue and love; and the “real world” beyond these shadow lands.
Which, incidentally, is why I find Donald’s series of battlefield chaplains particularly moving. The bravery of priests bringing the sacraments to men in the shadow of immediate death is a reminder of where our real priorities should be.