Tag: Imporance

This is a reflection on the Mass readings of the day.

“The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.”

We hear this theme over and over during the Easter season. Consider it: This theme is not about salvation, directly. It is also not so much about Resurrection from the dead as such.

What it directly speaks to, over and over again in this season, is the absolutely pivotal place Jesus has in human history through His victory, and how that place was attained specifically through the rejection of the craftsmen of human history. For Jesus, rejection is the path to critical relevance.

It is not much of a leap to identify that this metaphor speaks not only of Christ, but of the Christian as well. “If the world has hates you, realize that it hated me first,” says Jesus to His disciples in Jn. 15:18. So too, then, while Christ is the one true Cornerstone, through the rejection of the world we take our place as critical foundational stones for the salvation of humanity.

Every saint has the glorious calling and role to bring many others to heaven who were not previously on the path there. Every saint becomes one of these foundational stones. When we consider this, a Christian life aimed solely at avoiding grave sin makes no sense. We must take advantage of the glorious opportunity of our calling, to become saints, true intimates of Jesus, redemptive partners with Him, for the salvation of many.

Ideas for conversation with the Lord: Ask Jesus brazenly for a share in His glory. Tell Him that you want the eternal glory that He offers, not the glory that the world provides. And when He asks you, as He did the Sons of Thunder, “Can you drink the cup that I am going to drink?”, answer like them: “I can.” (Cf.