Thursday of the 1st week of Advent

Advent brings a time to take a deep breath, a time to anticipate. But that anticipation also can have us looking back. How did we get to this place? And where does this path lead me?
The reading from Isaiah and the Gospel today each talks about foundations. In the reading, we have a strong city with walls to protect us and gates that open to a nation that is just. In the Gospel, the parable warns against building a house on sand because it will be buffeted by rain, floods and winds until it collapses. Jesus is telling us that we have to listen to his words. But it’s not enough just to listen, we have to act on them; it is living out the Gospel in our everyday lives by seeing God in all things.
I pray that today is a day where I work to build that solid foundation by listening to the Gospel. I pray that I see the face of God in all those I encounter today.