========================================================================
  HENCE THE LORD SAYS IN THE GOSPEL
  by St. Benedict of Nursia
========================================================================

Summary: The Lord's sermon emphasizes the importance of listening to and
acting upon His words, and the consequences of not doing so, while also
highlighting His patience and mercy as an invitation to repent and
convert.

Topics: "Repentance And Mercy", "Faith And Action"
Scripture References: Ezekiel 33:11, Matthew 7:24, Romans 2:4

------------------------------------------------------------------------
DESCRIPTION
------------------------------------------------------------------------

St. Benedict of Nursia emphasizes the importance of not only listening
to the words of the Lord but also acting upon them, comparing it to
building a house on a strong foundation. He highlights that God
patiently waits for us to respond to His teachings through our actions,
granting us time in this life to repent and amend our ways. The preacher
stresses the mercy of the Lord, who desires the conversion and life of
sinners rather than their death.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
CONTENT
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hence the Lord says in the Gospel,

"Whoever listens to these words of Mine and acts upon them,

I will liken to a wise person

who built a house on rock.

The floods came,

the winds blew and beat against that house,

and it did not fall,

because it had been founded on rock" (Matt. 7:24-25).

Having given us these assurances,

the Lord is waiting every day

for us to respond by our deeds to His holy admonitions.

And the days of this life are lengthened

and a truce granted us for this very reason,

that we may amend our evil ways.

As the Apostle says,

"Do you not know that God's patience is inviting you to repent" (Rom.
2:4)?

For the merciful Lord tells us,

"I desire not the death of the sinner,

but that the sinner should be converted and live" (Ezech. 33:11).

========================================================================
Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/st-benedict-of-nursia/hence-the-lord-says-in-the-gospel/
========================================================================