CHAPTER 11 – THE FOUNDATION LAID UPON ROCK
“O God, you created us for yourself, and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in you.” -St. Augustine of Hippo
“God is near to all those who call on Him. The kingdom of heaven can be reached from any land.” -St. Samthann
“For human beings, the most daunting challenge is to become fully human. For to become fully human is to become fully divine.” -Thomas Keating
“What we need most in order to make progress is to be silent before this great God with our appetite and with our tongue, for the language he best hears is silent love.” -St. John of the Cross
Our lives are built upon a foundation that weathers any storm – the love and teachings of Jesus Christ. He is our role model, and his message of love becomes the guiding principle for our actions. Scripture acts as our compass, leading us on the path He laid out. Jesus is our example, Love is our Law, the Gospel is our Rule.
To ensure our community’s love is rooted in divine truth, we turn to the Beatitudes, the Greatest Commandment, and Christ’s Law of Love. These principles form the core of our Rule and guide our daily lives. They represent the ideal we strive for, the people we aspire to become. While perfection may seem out of reach, we journey together, supporting each other’s growth. The Beatitudes reveal our flaws, not to induce guilt, but to inspire repentance and a renewed commitment to God’s path. As followers of “The Way,” we embrace the ongoing transformation, understanding that the journey itself holds immense value.
Our foundation in Christ compels us to live a life of constant prayer, lest our faith become fleeting. Love demands acts of service, transforming it from a mere concept into a tangible expression of God’s message. Scripture isn’t meant to gather dust on a shelf, but to actively be a part of our everyday lives offering its wisdom and counsel. Humility guides us on a path of continuous reflection and repentance, guarding us against self-deception.
True blessedness isn’t about fleeting happiness or fulfilling every desire. It’s found in the depths of our humanity – a vulnerable and authentic connection with God and others. This blessedness emerges from a life of integrity, the ability to weather storms and emerge stronger, more whole. It’s the unwavering faith that echoes Job’s words, “The Lord gives and the Lord takes away: Blessed be the Name of the Lord.” This sense of blessedness is the ultimate goal of our journey, a transformation fueled by love, guided by scripture, and anchored in the unwavering love of Jesus Christ.
- Scriptural Support
Then Jesus said, “Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep, and laid the foundation upon rock; and when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house, and could not shake it, because it had been well built.” Luke 6:47,48 (RSV)
Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you
and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven,
for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Matthew 5:3-12 (NRSV)
[Jesus said,] “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets.” Matt. 22:37-40 (RSV)
“I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35 (NRSV)