December 04, 2025 Thursday of the First Week of Advent
Daily Readings: Isaiah 26:1-6; Matthew 7:21, 24-27
Children of God: There is an old Malay proverb that says, “A tree with deep roots laughs at the storms.” When the winds rage and the rains pour, the tree with shallow roots is easily uprooted, but the one whose roots reach deep into the soil remains firm. This simple truth about nature speaks powerfully about our life of faith. In good times, it is easy to believe; but when trials come, only those whose hearts are deeply rooted in God will remain standing. Indeed, “A tree with deep roots laughs at the storms.”
In Matthew 7:24-25 Jesus says, “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall because it had been founded on rock.” Jesus reminds us that faith is not just about listening to His words but living them. A faith without practiced is like a house built on sand — it looks strong for a while but collapses when tested.
The Philippines, being a land of storms and earthquakes, understands this truth well. Houses that are built with care and a strong foundation endure through calamities. In the same way, our spiritual life needs to be anchored on prayer, Scripture, and service. It is not enough to say, “Lord, Lord,” as Jesus warns; we must do the will of the Father in heaven. Real faith shows itself in action — in forgiveness, honesty, and love for others.
A tree with deep roots and a house with a firm foundation both take time to build. So it is with faith. We deepen our roots every time we persevere in prayer, every time we choose what is right over what is easy, and every time we love when it is difficult to do so. Storms are part of life, but they can strengthen us if our faith rests on the solid rock of Christ.
Children of God: Let us take time today to look at our foundation. Is it built on mere words, or on obedience to Christ? Let us root our lives in Him, for He alone is our Rock and our refuge. When the storms of life come, may our faith stand firm — not because we are strong, but because our hearts are deeply planted in the solid ground of God’s love.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
Latest News
