How’s Your Foundation?

I watch a lot of home improvement shows. They often begin with an old house and an avid renovator, who arrives with plans, permits, and color swatches in hand. It isn’t long before unforeseen problems arise. Termites, broken pipes, frayed electrical wires, and racoons in the attic are usually not real budget busters. But one thing no homeowner wants to hear is: “You have foundation issues.” Oh, no!

Last night, New Jersey was hit by a fierce wind storm complete with thunder, lightning, and falling trees. This morning, I had some lawn chairs and garbage cans to pick up and put back where they belong. But the house was fine, and there was no water in the basement. My home’s foundation had done its job.

At Mass this morning, our pastor began his homily with a question, “How’s your foundation?” I thought to myself, “I just checked; it’s good.” Of course, I knew it wasn’t a question about cement and cinderblocks. He wasn’t asking about the foundation that my house is built on, but the one my life is built on.

Today’s gospel reading is Matthew 7:24-28. These are the closing verses of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) which contains an amazing number of familiar lessons, including the Beatitudes, the Lord’s Prayer, and the Golden Rule. That day on the hillside, when Jesus finished teaching, He explained to the crowd that just hearing His message was not enough. We have to turn lessons into actions. That’s the only way to build our lives on a solid foundation.

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house upon the rock;and the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house upon the sand;and the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell; and great was the fall of it.”

Thankful as I am for the solid foundation under my house, I know that the gospel reading is reminding me to check my own personal foundation, the moral and spiritual one, the one my life is built on. Last night’s storm is long gone, and it’s a beautiful day. Actually, it’s a good day to take my Bible outside, sit in the sunshine and re-read the Sermon on the Mount. Anytime we read the Word of God, we are sitting at the feet of Jesus. So, why not sit in the grass like His disciples did that day, when Jesus blessed the poor in spirit, the merciful, and those who mourn? Why not let Him remind us to forgive those who trespass against us and to treat others as we would like to be treated? Sounds like a good plan, and it could be very good for my foundation.

Got foundation issues?

There is an 1834 hymn by Edward Mote that says:

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand:
all other ground is sinking sand;
all other ground is sinking sand.

It’s a reminder to build our lives on the Word of God, Jesus Christ, the solid rock.

“In the beginning was the Word, 
and the Word was with God, and the Word was God….
In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” 
John 1:1,4-5

“How Firm a Foundation” 1787 hymn

How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
is laid for your faith in God’s excellent Word!
What more can be said than to you God hath said,
to you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?

“The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose,
I will not, I will not desert to its foes;
that soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no, never, no, never forsake.”