Genesis 16:1-12, 15-16 / Matthew 7:21-29
Very often, a well-intentioned act or motive with noble objectives is tarnished by our human failings.
Such was the case between Sarai and Hagar, and Abram was caught in the middle.
Sarai intended to have descendants through Hagar, and Abram agreed, and presumably Hagar consented.
The Lord had promised Abram an heir of his own flesh and blood, and Sarai thought that this would be the way it would be done.
But when things subsequently went wrong between Sarai and Hagar, it only goes to show that when God's ways are replaced with human ways, then things will go down the wrong way.
Essentially it shows that despite all good human intentions and motives, we are prone to our sinful tendencies.
As Jesus said in the gospel, we may be able to prophesy and exorcise and work miracles, but we may forget that we are sinners and the fact is that we have sinned.
Hence we need to pray and ask for forgiveness and to be cleansed of our sins so that we can truly listen to the Lord and follow His ways.
We may have the good intention of building a nice house for the Lord but we have to let Him show us where to build it.
Only with the Lord's help will we know whether we are building on sand or on rock.