Cornerstone

The WORD today (see http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/042218.cfm) reminds me that God should be the cornerstone of 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 first 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. 

Peter proclaimed this in the first reading, that Jesus is the cornerstone that the builders rejected. The psalmist emphasizes this. In the gospel, we see what this means. We see an implication of it, that if we treat Him as our cornerstone, we will trust him as well. He will be the shepherd of our life. We will surrender ourselves to him if we trust him and give him that much importance. This should be done not just when things are easy. But especially when things are unsure. We should have faith, just like in the second reading. We may not know what is going to happen. But we have faith and we know that when the time comes, we will be like God. 

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. Sorry for not trusting and surrendering in you. 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. Use me to please you and proclaim your kingdom. Amen. 

Blessed Sunday!

In Christ,

-g-

Daily Readings

April 22, 2018

Fourth Sunday of Easter
Lectionary: 50

Reading 1 ACTS 4:8-12

Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said:
"Leaders of the people and elders:
If we are being examined today
about a good deed done to a cripple,
namely, by what means he was saved,
then all of you and all the people of Israel should know
that it was in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean
whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead;
in his name this man stands before you healed. He is the stone rejected by you, the builders,
which has become the cornerstone.
There is no salvation through anyone else,
nor is there any other name under heaven
given to the human race by which we are to be saved."

Responsorial Psalm PS 118:1, 8-9, 21-23, 26, 28, 29

R. (22) The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his mercy endures forever.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in man.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in princes.
R. The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.
or:
R. Alleluia.
I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me
and have been my savior.
The stone which the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.
By the LORD has this been done;
it is wonderful in our eyes.
R. The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD;
we bless you from the house of the LORD.
I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me
and have been my savior.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
for his kindness endures forever.
R. The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.
or:
R. Alleluia. 

Reading 2 1 JN 3:1-2

Beloved:
See what love the Father has bestowed on us
that we may be called the children of God.
Yet so we are.
The reason the world does not know us
is that it did not know him.
Beloved, we are God's children now;
what we shall be has not yet been revealed.
We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him,
for we shall see him as he is.

Alleluia JN 10:14

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I am the good shepherd, says the Lord;
I know my sheep, and mine know me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel JN 10:11-18

Jesus said:
"I am the good shepherd.
A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
A hired man, who is not a shepherd
and whose sheep are not his own,
sees a wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away,
and the wolf catches and scatters them.
This is because he works for pay and has no concern for the sheep.
I am the good shepherd,
and I know mine and mine know me,
just as the Father knows me and I know the Father;
and I will lay down my life for the sheep.
I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold.
These also I must lead, and they will hear my voice,
and there will be one flock, one shepherd.
This is why the Father loves me,
because I lay down my life in order to take it up again.
No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own.
I have power to lay it down, and power to take it up again.
This command I have received from my Father.