Are You Not Entertained?

Building our house on rock instead of sand  

Matthew 7:21-29  

Jesus said to his disciples: “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.”   

          Do you know what the word “arena” means, as in “Alltel Arena” in North Little Rock, or “Oracle Arena” where the Golden State Warriors play basketball? “Arena” is originally Latin and means “sand.” The famous Colosseum in Rome, where the gruesome gladiators fought fiercely, had a wooden floor. But because their battles were so bloody, the wooden floor would become slippery with all the blood. The Romans covered the wooden floor with sand to absorb the copious amounts of blood that was spilt. Today, when modern-day gladiators – like the Warriors and Cavaliers – do battle, they fight in the “arena,” they fight proverbially on sand.   

          But I am convinced the sand symbolizes something more. In the movie “Gladiator” Russell Crowe defeats his enemy in the arena, but then he turns to face the crowd and chastises them saying, “Are you not entertained? Is this not why you are here?” In other words, the chief pastime and purpose of Roman culture had become “entertainment,” that had become the center of their society. And we can ask ourselves as Americans the same question. Just look at how much money we spend on building “arenas.” Jack Nicholson pays over $110,000 for courtside seats at the arena where the Los Angeles Lakers play. Like the Romans, we Americans put a high price on what happens in the arena, what happens on sand.   

          In the gospel today, Jesus contrasts two hypothetical people: one who builds his house on rock, and another who builds on sand. The consequences are clear for both builders when the storms come: the house on rock stands, while the house on sand collapses. Something similar happens not only to individuals but also to societies that build their culture on sand, the shifting sands of entertainment. When the storms comes, the collapse is not far behind. If you don’t believe me, just ask the Romans.   

          Today, let me give you a little litmus test to gauge where you are building the house of your life: on rock or on sand. Just ask yourself two questions. Where do I spend my time? And where do I spend my money? Take out your calendar, and count the number of hours you spend on your church or on charity versus the number of hours you spend on entertainment. Review your credit card bill and add the charges for religious activities versus entertainment. Just look at this magnificent church, built over 100 years ago. Where did the Fort Smith Catholics of 1916 spend their time and money, versus where do the Fort Smith Catholics of 2016 spend our time and money? We love to spend our time and money in the “arena,” we are building our society on sand.   

          You know, I sometimes wonder why people like to come hear my homilies. Are people really coming here looking for Jesus in the Mass, or are they really just here to hear a joke or a funny story? Why do many people go to church at all today? Sometimes I feel like a gladiator and want to say, “Are you not entertained? Is that not why you are here?”  Just kidding.   

          Praised be Jesus Christ!