Ursuline Associate Bonnie Chester has written a reflection on the Sermon on the Mount, and building a foundation of faith in Jesus.

“Tell me the story of The Three Little Pigs, Grandma.” A sleepover at my house was a real treat for my grandchildren when they were little. We would pile into bed and tell stories. My grandson, who loved this story to be repeated over and over (he is 25 now—where did the years go!), would always laugh at my huffs and puffs. Those little houses of sticks and straw were not very substantial, were they? Remember the one that withstood the wind—it was made of bricks, a rock-solid and very secure foundation.

These memories came to mind recently when I read today’s gospel of Matthew. Jesus had just been teaching the crowds. These words of Jesus are part of the Sermon on the Mount, chapters 5-7 in Matthew. Jesus says, “Not everyone who says to me ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father in heaven” (Matt 7:21). He then follows, “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock” (Matt 7:24-25).

Jesus is telling me that I need to take His words into my heart and make them the basis for every aspect of my life. I need to work at building that rock-solid foundation so that the storms of life won’t wash away my faith in Him, or that a strong wind-filled temptation won’t sweep me off my feet.

I guess a good way to assess my foundation would be to go over a day in my life, and a good guide would be the teachings in the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus lays out rules for dealing with anger, how to pray, forgiveness and love for our enemies, to name a few.

Did I start that day with prayer? “But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father…” (Matt 6:6). Do I pray when I get a chance, or do I have a rock-solid pattern of prayer? If I did pray, were my words sincere and filled with praise?

Do I forgive someone only when I feel like it? “But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also” (Matt 5:39). Did I think to call a friend who needed some encouragement or take time to visit someone who was alone? Have I been holding a grudge against someone?

Have I lived every hour of the day in question with strong convictions of what is right and what is wrong, or have I been vague and haphazard in following those convictions? Have I stated to others what I believe, not backing down, or have I “gone along with the crowd”?

Jesus also says, “You are the light of the world…let your light shine before others…” (Matt 5:16). If I build a rock-solid foundation from years of studying His Word and walking with Him each day, that light will be so evident and my foundation so rock-solid. Jesus tells His followers in the gospel of Luke: “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” (Luke 6:47-48). If I build my life on Jesus’ words and His wise teachings, no storm or flood will harm me. I will be just like that wise pig whose brick house was still standing!

Lord, You are my foundation. Help me build my rock-solid life on You. Amen.