Cornerstone

The WORD today reminds me that God should be the cornerstone in my life. 

A cornerstone is one of the most, if not the most, important stone in a structure. It is defined as "A stone that forms the base of a corner of a building, joining two walls". Some say that it is important  since all other stones will be set in reference to this stone, thus determining the position of the entire structure. This is why in the second reading, Peter said that the stone that the builders, the leaders at that time, rejected has become the cornerstone. What they considered insignificant is actually very important. 

This is how God should be in our lives. God should be the cornerstone in our life. 

God should be the foundation of our life. He should be the foundation in which we would build our life. He should be the foundation in which we would base our decisions and actions. We see this in action in the readings. 

In the first reading, the apostles did God's work. Faithfully. We also see Peter in the second reading doing this. Proclaiming God's word, anchoring his teachings on God. In the gospel we see Jesus, teaching about his cornerstone - God. This is how we should live. This is how we should act. 

During this time, it is all the more important to have Christ as the cornerstone of our life. We are in a crisis situation. We are uncertain of the future. There is still no vaccine. Number of affected people is still high. There are still political issues. The more we should be anchored on God. The more we should be firm in him and rely on him to get us through this. He is powerful. He is loving.

Who is God in my life? Is he the cornerstone of my life? Do I base my actions and decisions on him? What is he reminding me today? 

May we not let our hearts be deceived by the lies of the world, and make God the cornerstone of our life. 

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another chance to love and serve you. Thank you for another Sunday. Thank you for the reminder. Lord, sorry for not making you the cornerstone in my life. Sorry for not anchoring my actions and decisions on you. Sorry for keeping you in church on Sundays. Help me live right. Help me live pleasing to you. Help me make you the cornerstone in my life. May all my actions and decisions be based on you, on what you want me to do. Amen. 

Blessed Sunday!

In Christ,

-g-

May 10, 2020

5th Sunday of Easter; St. Damien Joseph de Veuster of Molokai

FIRST READING

Acts 6:1–7

As the number of disciples continued to grow, the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. So the Twelve called together the community of the disciples and said, “It is not right for us to neglect the word of God to serve at table. Brothers, select from among you seven reputable men, filled with the Spirit and wisdom, whom we shall appoint to this task, whereas we shall devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” The proposal was acceptable to the whole community, so they chose Stephen, a man filled with faith and the Holy Spirit, also Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicholas of Antioch, a convert to Judaism. They presented these men to the apostles who prayed and laid hands on them. The word of God continued to spread, and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly; even a large group of priests were becoming obedient to the faith.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM

Psalm 33:1–2, 4–5, 18–19 (22)

R. Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you. or R. Alleluia. 

Exult, you just, in the LORD; praise from the upright is fitting. Give thanks to the LORD on the harp; with the ten-stringed lyre chant his praises.

R. Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you. or R. Alleluia. 

Upright is the word of the LORD, and all his works are trustworthy. He loves justice and right; of the kindness of the LORD the earth is full. 

R. Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you. or R. Alleluia. 

See, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear him, upon those who hope for his kindness, to deliver them from death and preserve them in spite of famine. 

R. Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you. or R. Alleluia.

SECOND READING

1 Peter 2:4–9

Beloved:

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 to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

For it says in Scripture:

Behold, I am laying a stone in Zion, a cornerstone, chosen and precious, and 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, 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. 

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.

ALLELUIA

John 14:6

R. Alleluia, alleluia. 

I am the way, the truth and the life, says the Lord; no one comes to the Father, except through me. 

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GOSPEL

John 14:1–12

Jesus said to his disciples:

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be. Where I am going you know the way.” 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.” Philip said to him, “Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own. The Father who dwells in me is doing his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else, believe because of the works themselves. Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father.”