Thursday of the First Week of Advent

“And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.” Matthew 16:18
 
“Everyone who listens to 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 buffeted the house. But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock. And everyone who listens to these words of mine but does not act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. And it collapsed and was completely ruined.” -Matthew 7:24-27
 
“Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life.” -John 6:68
 
Sometimes, I become discouraged when I see what man’s propensity toward evil has done to Christ’s bride, the Church. Then I remember these Scripture passages and the Truth found in the Liturgy of the Eucharist, where earthly bread and wine become the divine Body and Blood of Christ. 
 
I look to Scripture to ease my concern and find rest for my soul, where Jesus tells me all I need to know. He says: ‘I have given you a rock upon who I have built My Church Militant. You are wise also to build your house upon the teachings of this rock so it does not collapse when the rain, wind, and floods come.’ 
 
Then I answer my Lord from the Truth found in the Liturgy. I realize that while men are corruptible, the Church is not, and it is through the Church that I hear the words of eternal life and receive the Bread of Life in the Eucharist. Then I answer myself in honesty: Where else can I go? The Church has the words of eternal life.
 
Saint Sabas, pray for us.
 
Click on the link for the Daily Reading.
 
Jesus, I trust in you.