The Parable of the House Built on Rock
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A house built on rock stands firm through the storm: whoever hears God’s Word and lives it will not fall
What is this parable?
These are the closing words of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus’ longest sermon in the Gospel of Saint Matthew (chapters 5 to 7), which includes the Beatitudes and the Our Father. After teaching so many things, the Lord tells the story of two houses to say: listening is not enough; you have to do it.
The story
Jesus tells of two men who built houses. The wise man chose to build his house on rock. “The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock.” (Mt 7:25).
The foolish man built his house on sand. When the rain fell, the floods came and the winds blew, the house on the sand “collapsed and was completely ruined” (Mt 7:27).
What does Jesus want to teach you?
Both men heard the Lord’s words. The difference is that one put them into practice and the other did not. Knowing lots of prayers and lots of catechism lessons by heart is good, but if you do not live by them, it is like a house built on sand.
Everyone meets “storms” in life: a bad grade, being misunderstood by a friend, sad things happening at home, being pushed to do something wrong. People who live by God’s Word can still be sad and sometimes stumble, but God holds them up and helps them stand again, because God is their foundation. Jesus himself is the strongest rock of your life.
A lesson for you
- After each catechism class or each Mass, choose one of the Lord’s words to put into practice that week.
- When things are hard, pray and trust God, as if holding tight to the rock.
- Build your life out of small good habits every day, like one solid stone after another.
- Set a good example for younger children and your friends, so that everyone can see how God’s Word makes life steady and peaceful.
Identifying marks
- A large gray rock as the foundation of the house: the words of Jesus put into practice; that is a solid foundation for your whole life.
- A small stone house standing firm, its owner calm at the door: someone who hears God’s Word and lives by it; even in hard times, he is at peace.
- Storm, dark clouds and a raging flood: the trials everyone meets; following the Lord does not mean never facing a storm.
- A house on the sand across the water, falling down: someone who hears God’s Word but does not put it into practice; when trials come, that life does not stand firm (cf. Mt 7:26-27).
The text on this page is the card in the Catholic Information app, word for word.
Compiled by i-Catholic · About