Gospel in Art: A foolish man builds his house on sand

Leaning Tower of Pisa, Construction started in 1173, Architect Bonanno Pisano or Diotisalvi, Height 55.86 m , Width of walls at the base 2.44 m

Source: Christian Art

Matthew 7:21-29

At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, 'Not everyone who says to me, "Lord, Lord", will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, "Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?" And then will I declare to them, "I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness."

'Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.'

And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.

Reflection on the Bell Tower of Pisa

In today's Gospel, Jesus reminds us that what truly matters is not merely what can be seen, but what lies beneath. A building may appear beautiful and impressive, yet if its foundations are weak, sooner or later cracks will begin to show. Storms, floods and strong winds reveal whether a structure has been built wisely. The same is true of our spiritual lives. Much of what sustains us remains hidden from view: our prayer, our relationship with God, our habits of faith, our capacity to love and forgive. Jesus invites us to examine the foundations upon which we are building our spiritual lives. Are we grounded in Christ and His teaching, or are we relying on things that cannot ultimately bear the weight of life's challenges?

This theme brings to mind one of the world's most famous buildings: the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Construction began in 1173 as the freestanding bell tower for the city's magnificent cathedral complex. Its primary function was to house the bells that called the faithful to prayer and marked the liturgical hours. Yet almost as soon as the third storey was completed, builders noticed a problem: the tower was beginning to tilt. The cause was not poor craftsmanship but poor foundations. The tower had been built on a shallow foundation resting on soft subsoil made up of clay, sand and marine sediments. The ground simply could not adequately support the immense weight of the marble structure above it.

Ironically, the very flaw that threatened the tower's survival is what made it famous. Building work continued but was done but interrupted several times, partly by wars, and these long pauses probably prevented the tower from collapsing altogether, as the soft soil had time to settle and become hard. Successive generations of architects tried to compensate for the lean, even building some upper storeys slightly taller on one side to counterbalance the tilt. Today the tower leans by nearly four degrees and has become one of the most recognisable buildings on earth.

Maybe the Tower of Pisa offers a striking visual commentary on today's Gospel. The tower is undeniably beautiful. Its elegant Romanesque arcades, gleaming white marble and harmonious proportions continue to inspire millions of visitors every year. Yet it also stands as a reminder that foundations matter. A magnificent structure can be compromised by what lies unseen beneath it. Jesus does not ask us first to build impressive lives; He asks us to build well. The deepest question is not how successful, admired or accomplished we appear, but whether our lives rest securely upon the rock of His word.

LINKS

Christian Art: https://christian.art/
Today's reading: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/matthew-7-21-29-2026/
Video: How art called me to the priesthood: www.indcatholicnews.com/news/55096