A synopsis of the sermon delivered by the Rev. David L. Hicks at St. Paul’s Reformed Episcopal Church on Sunday, February 22, 2004, Quinquagesima. Please read St. Luke 6:46-49.

It hardly seems necessary for someone to assert that if you are a follower of Jesus you must do the things that Jesus has commanded; yet, history tells us that followers of Jesus frequently need to be reminded of this truth. Luke mentions an occasion when it was necessary for Jesus to say this to those around him: “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” (Lk. 6:46).

In order to stress the importance and wisdom in not only hearing what he says but also doing what he says, Jesus offers a parable.

I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete (Lk.6:47-49).

There are some observations to be made concerning this parable. First of all, the most prominent point of the parable is that the person compared to the wise builder is someone who does more than hear what Jesus has to say: he also puts his words into practice. It is not enough to attend church, listen to the Scriptures being read and listen to sermons. It is necessary for the word of God to have a place in our hearts and for our lives to be changed in some way, having heard it. Secondly, the only difference between the wise and foolish builder that is mentioned in the parable is that of the foundation. Jesus did not say, “Whoever hears my words and does them will have a better house than someone who does not.” Nor did Jesus say, “Whoever hears my words and does them will not have a flood that tests the stability of the house.” Christian lives, on the surface, appear no different from that of others. We go to work, pay our bills, enjoy the pleasures of God’s creation and experience the same sorrows and disappointments. The difference lies in the foundation – the Christian’s life is founded upon Christ and has the stability and endurance that will stand the test of time and last into eternity. The final observation is closely related to the previous one. The wisdom of the wise builder in not fully realized until the time of testing. When the Christian person abstains from certain behavior or acts in a certain way out of obedience to Christ, it may seem foolish at first. Why deny yourself anything; or why do something that is difficult? It is only when one examines such a commitment in light of the Day of Judgment and eternal life that the wisdom is discerned. Both houses, that of the wise builder and that of the foolish, were fine until the day that a testing took place. It was then that the wisdom of the foundation built on a rock was made manifest. I pray that God’s grace will enable each of us to remain on that sure foundation, and that we would not only hear the words of our Lord but also live them.
Amen.