Slideshow image

THE WISE MAN BUILT HIS HOUSE

In our first parish, one the favorite gospel songs/hymns, with the children and adults alike, was this little praise hymn. “A praise hymn”, if you Google it, would suggest it is ‘only’ for children. I would comment, “not so”.  

The lyrics are here: THE WISE MAN BUILT HIS HOUSE

The wise man built his house upon the rock
The wise man built his house upon the rock
The wise man built his house upon the rock
And the rain came tumbling down
Oh, the rain came down and the floods came up
The rain came down and the floods came up
The rain came down and the floods came up
And the wise man's house stood firm.

The foolish man built his house upon the sand
The foolish man built his house upon the sand
The foolish man built his house upon the sand
And the rain came tumbling down
Oh, the rain came down and the floods came up
The rain came down and the floods came up
The rain came down and the floods came up
And the foolish man's house went "splat!".

So, build your house on the Lord Jesus Christ
Build your house on the Lord Jesus Christ
Build your house on the Lord Jesus Christ
And the blessings will come down
Oh, the blessings come down as your prayers go up
The blessings come down as your prayers go up
The blessings come down as your prayers go up
As your prayers go up. 

I am reminded of these words, in the midst of this past Sunday celebrating Pentecost, then next Sunday celebrating the Trinity.

All of this is happening in the midst of one of the greatest mobilizations of the war on hunger, happening around the world right now. I am speaking of the rush, by our team of agricultural entrepreneurs, to get the seeds in the ground.           

For myself, one of the greatest illustrations for our faith, and the gifts of the Trinity, comes in the form of the planting of the seeds in the earth.

God, as represented by the seed, the new shoot, springing from the seed being Jesus Christ. Then, the energy to bring that seed to maturity as represented by the Holy Spirit.

We are not sure where it comes from, yet we know it is the “germ” which gives the new plant energy to spring forth roots, which will sustain it to maturity.             

The “WORD” shared with you this week is 'Spirit'.

Br. Geoffrey Tristam shared this observation with us: ‘Come, Holy Spirit! And that Spirit, like the sun and the rain, will help the seeds which God has planted, deep within us, to grow and flourish.’  

This illustration of ‘the Spirit of God, resting within us’, is a reminder for us to be affirming life comes from within our inner-self. It is like the rain and sun which sustains the seed planted in the earth. God’s spirit has been planted in each of us.             

Blessings for this week.
May we all continue to build our spiritual house on the Word of God.
Archdeacon Brian+