By his resurrection, Jesus has brought us from death to life. He has snatched us from this present evil age (Gal 1:4), and from the death-directed desires of our body (Rom 6:12), and made us into a new and living creation (2 Cor 5:17). As such, we have exchanged the tombstones that once indicated we were dead in our sins, and have become living stones in the spiritual edifice that is the Body of Christ, and also the Church.
In the Epistle for today’s Mass (1 Peter 2:4-9), we are summoned to this new life and told what some of its characteristics are. Let’s take a look at how we go from being tombstones to living stones by considering this epistle in three sections.
1. The Call of Salvation – The text says, Come to him, a living stone, rejected by human beings but chosen and precious in the sight of God, and, like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house .
Notice first the invitation that is made – Come to Him! Let yourself be built! The entire Christian life is based on our response to an invitation to accept Jesus Christ and to let him transform our life. We are to say, “yes” not only to Jesus, but also to what he can do for us. He will take our broken, crumbling lives and rebuild them. And in what sense will he do this?
We’ll look next at the images that are offered:
Living Stones – A stone is an odd image for life. Generally we can think of nothing less living than a stone. So the text says, “living stones.” What does it mean to be a living stone? First, it means to be alive, to be full of life! Second, it means that some of the better qualities of stone are to be ours. A stone is firm, weighty, not easily moved, and able to withstand a heavy load. And thus we too are to be strong and firm in our faith, not easily moved about by the currents of the world or tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes (Eph 4:14). Stable and firm, we are also able to carry the weight and difficulties that this world imposes. And we are able to support and carry others in their time of need, sharing their burdens. Yes, living stones—strong, firm, not easily moved, and alive—quite alive!
A Spiritual House – The image implies that we as living stones make up, in a spiritual sense, the walls of the Church. Together we are fitted like stones into a wall that is strong and sure. So too we are not saved merely unto ourselves, but we are saved also for the sake of others. Together, and by God’s grace, we depend on one another, each carrying his share of the burden. All the stones in a wall do their parts. Remove one stone and the whole wall is weakened and threatened. Only together, with all doing their parts, is the wall solid and sure.
2. The Choice for Salvation – The text says, whoever believes in it shall not be put to shame. Therefore, its value is for you who have faith, but for those without faith: The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone, and a stone that will make people stumble, and a rock that will make them fall. They stumble by disobeying the word, as is their destiny.
Simply put, we have a choice to make, and that choice will determine if Jesus is the cornerstone who supports us, or a stumbling block over whom we trip and fall. It is an interesting phenomenon that when a person is being rescued at sea, some victims reach out and grab the life ring that is tossed to them, while others resist and fight attempts to save them, seeing it as something that will cause them further danger.
What is meant here by cornerstone? We usually think today of a ceremonial stone with an inscription and possibly some historical things inside. But “cornerstone” here refers more to the stone at the bottom of an arch or the row of bricks that supports the whole arch. It had to be a very carefully crafted stone since all the other stones depended on its integrity and perfect shape to support them. And this is Jesus Christ for us. We are all leaning on Jesus and he is the perfect stone who carries our weight.
But for those who reject Christ, he is a stone over whom they trip and fall—a stumbling block. Surely Jesus wants to save us all, but some reject him and thus for them He becomes a stumbling block. What this means is that we cannot remain neutral about Jesus; we have to decide one way or the other about him: yes = salvation, no = condemnation. Thus He will either be a cornerstone or a stumbling block; there is no third way. To those who knowingly reject Him, He is a stumbling block. And this image also explains some of the venomous attacks on Christ and Christianity from the world. For when one trips over something and falls, one tends to curse what caused the fall.
So the choice is ours. And may it be Christ, and may He be our cornerstone—the only One on whom we lean and rely. Only this will bring us from being tombstones to living stones.
3. The Characteristics of Salvation – The text says, You are “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may announce the praises” of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
Note four characteristics of those who are no longer tombstones, but are living stones:
Our Pedigree – The text calls us a “chosen race.” We reflected earlier on making Christ our choice. But here the text reminds us that before we chose Him, He chose us. If we got an invitation to dinner at the White House, many of us would feel that we had “made it” and would proudly tell our friends of the great dignity we had received. Yet too easily we take little notice that we are chosen by God and invited to the great Wedding Feast of the Lamb. The fact is, we are chosen; we have a pedigree. We are of the household of God. And this is a very great dignity, greater than any worldly dignity, and it is able to overcome any indignity that the world heaps upon us. We are a chosen race.
Our Priesthood – All of us who are baptized into Christ Jesus are made priest, prophet, and king. And this “royal” priesthood, while differing from the ministerial priesthood of the men who minister the Sacraments, has this similarity: every priest is enabled to offer a sacrifice pleasing to God. In the Old Testament, priests offered up something distinct from them, usually an animal, such as a lamb. But in the priesthood of Jesus Christ, the priest and the victim are one and the same—Jesus offered himself. Hence all the baptized are equipped by God to offer the pleasing sacrifice of their very selves to God. Here is a very great dignity given us by Jesus: to have a perfect right to stand in His Father’s presence, praise Him, and offer a fitting sacrifice. The ministerial priests of the Church bring us the Sacraments, and only they can do this. But all baptized believers share in the royal priesthood wherein they freely offer themselves to God.
Our Place – The text calls us a holy nation. To be “holy” means to be “set apart.” Hence we are called out from the many to be a people that is set apart for God. And while all are invited to Christ, only those who accept the invitation receive the grace to be called a holy nation. As such, we should understand that our role is not to “fit in” with this sin-soaked world, but rather to stand apart from it, to be recognizably distinct from it. Our behavior, our priorities, our love, our joy, and our charity should be obvious to all. To be a holy nation is a great honor, but also a great responsibility. May the curse of Scripture never be said about us: As it is written: “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you (Rom 2:24).
Our Proclamation – The text says that the Lord has acted in our life so that you may announce the praises of him, who called you out of darkness into his own, wonderful light. Yes the Lord has been good to us and is changing our lives! If you are faithful, then you know what he has done for you and you have a testimony to give! Scripture says elsewhere that we were made for the praise of his glory (Eph 1:6). Do people hear you praise the Lord? Have you glorified his name among the Gentiles (Rom 15:9)? Do people know of your gratitude and have they heard of your witness to the Lord? Can you articulate how God has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light? You ought to be a witness for the Lord! This is a central and necessary characteristic of those who are no longer tombstones, but living stones.
Photo Credit: Tombstone Generator
Last night a bishop preached that he didn’t want to see Lenten faces in Easter, he asked us to smile. Please consider that sadness releases cortisol in our bodies that depresses our immune system and we fall prey to further
misery, wounds don’t heal. We just have to smile, like it or not.
An Archbishop.
What return can I give to HIM Who is Our GOD? To offer my life as a living sacrifice, as well, a living stone to build HIS ever growing spiritual house of faith, hope and love. This is the place for us, those who in this earth had banked our gifts for the Glory of HIS Name. I long and I pray for the time when the unbelievers and our brother Muslims will come to faith that they too will be living stones on top of one another building up the Church. Fiat voluntas TUA, sicut in Caelo et in tierra. Thank you, Monsignor for such a deep reflection.
I have been thinking about the fitting of stones together as a good analogy for marriage with God as the builder, He shapes us to fit with our spouse, and by living our vocation as spouses, our rough edges are worn away. We become better people by living with our spouse and children, learning to forgive and practicing virtues such as patience. It also takes us beyond our personal petty concerns when we put our family first. After some time, we are so closely fitted together, you cannot tell where the seam is. We are living stone that is being formed by the maker of the universe.
Dear Msgr. Pope,
I thank God for your on-line weekly homilies. My husband and I do a Communion Service each month for a retirement home and when I prepare to say a few words after the Gospel, I pray for what God wants me to say and I read your homily for inspiration. Thank you.
You are in my prayers. God bless you.
Bev
This is beautifully profound! Thank you!
I am very grateful for the explanation of the concept of “living stone” which I had never come to grasp in the past.
At Sunday Mass today our priest concentrated on the affirmation from Jesus – “I am the way, the truth and the Life” which was very helpful but I was still left with uncertainty about the concept of being “living stones”.
I have a question; when we, as Catholics, are called to offer ourselves at Mass, my intuition is that we offer the actions with which we glorified God during our week / our day and that we also offer the suffering that we have endured alongside those actions, in his name and with his help.
Is this understanding correct? And could you possibly expand on it either way?
Yes, it is correct and some more. As we offer our pains and sorrows, even our joys and happiness, we become part of the continuation of JESUS’ Ministry of bringing souls to the FATHER. As we do this, we become open to the Grace of GOD not just as conduits to bring this Grace of conversion to others but to ourselves,as well, being lifted higher and higher to the greater understanding and love of Our CREATOR and as such to understand and love and serve others too. Of course, this is easier said than done, but as you said, ‘with HIS help’ through the Church and by studying the WORD of GOD, HIS Scripture, the Bible. May the HOLY SPIRIT guide us always. GOD Bless you, Pilar. Goodness, gracious your name is synonymous to Cornerstone.
Many thanks.
No one comes to the Father except through Jesus Christ. As you say here in your article: “Simply put, we have a choice to make, and that choice will determine if Jesus is the cornerstone who supports us, or a stumbling block over whom we trip and fall.”
Here is John 14:5&6 from today’s Gospel reading of John 14:1-12:
Thomas said to him,
“Master, we do not know where you are going;
how can we know the way?”
Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through me.
If you know me, then you will also know my Father.
From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
“To those who knowingly reject Him, He is a stumbling block. And this image also explains some of the venomous attacks on Christ and Christianity from the world. For when one trips over something and falls, one tends to curse what caused the fall.”
Thing is, what caused them to fall is…them. Willful blindness created the fall, not the stone they tripped over. Had they just opened their eyes, they would have seen the light and navigated their way successfully. No need to blame a stone for being a stone, or Jesus for being Himself. We are the reason we fall. Not Him.
Not that the prideful can ever accept culpability for their failures. The big I prevents it. Sad, really.
To conclude your message with that beautiful song was truly uplifting. I will make every effort to introduce it to our
Gospel Choir.
My outlook on the cornerstone is that it turns. For 5,000 years the Jews had been going in one direction. Then Jesus came and turned. The Pharisees didn’t want to turn with him. The Jews to this day are still going in the same direction, but Jesus led His followers in a different direction 2,000 years ago!
Thank goodness Thomas asked the question, otherwise we would not know the answer.