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Reflection: Living Stones and Cornerstone

The fledgling church in Asia minor was windswept and wavering in the storms of Roman persecution and oppression. So, as a spiritual mentor, the apostle Peter sends a letter of encouragement. He bolsters the building project with vivid construction imagery – imagery that’s close to his heart.* It’s not original. He’s harking back to prophetic pictures from Isaiah.** What a rich and mighty endeavour is the holy church of Christ, he reminds them. An integrated collection of stones that are alive, hand-picked, well-founded, interconnected, holy and wholly acceptable, shameless and predestined.

A living edifice conjures up in my mind the Spanish tradition of human tower building. UNESCO has apparently declared them to be Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. Força, equilibri, valor i seny: Strength, balance, courage and common sense is their motto. It’s all extremely impressive to watch, say nothing of participating.

For me, castells reinforce the masterful and mighty solidarity of Christ’s invincible church built from uniquely designed, chosen-to-be-perfect people. Can you picture yourself as one of them? Do you recognise with whom you’re interconnected? Quite the challenge and privilege.

Unlike castells, our edifice is built on a rock. Prophesied as the Messiah, chosen by his father, kicked and crushed by mankind, only to be raised and given the highest honour as the Cornerstone. That, is in whom we trust and must remain – Jesus Christ, the precious cornerstone. Not to align with this precious cornerstone is to trip over it; to build life on the sand and ultimately lose everything.***

Prayer:

Holy Spirit, inhabit your world-wide interlink of stones that brings light to the world and honour to the Lord. Steady our resolve to keep our lives aligned with Christ. Renew our commitment to and our reliance on others.

[Repeat the prayer using ‘my’ instead of ‘our’.]

Footnotes

* Jesus had cryptically told Simon-Peter (meaning rock) that he would be vital in building Christ’s invincible church on the rock. Matthew 16:17-18

** A living temple, a precious cornerstone, sure foundations and a rock that trips/snares. Isaiah 8:14–15; 28:16

***like the wise and the foolish builder Matthew 7:24-27

1 Peter 2:1-25

1Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. 2Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.

The Living Stone and a Chosen People

4As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— 5you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6For in Scripture it says:

“See, I lay a stone in Zion,

a chosen and precious cornerstone,

and the one who trusts in him

will never be put to shame.”

7Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,

“The stone the builders rejected

has become the cornerstone,”

8and,

“A stone that causes people to stumble

and a rock that makes them fall.”

They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for.

9But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Living Godly Lives in a Pagan Society

11Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. 12Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

13Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, 14or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. 15For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. 16Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. 17Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.

18Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. 19For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God. 20But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. 21To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.

22“He committed no sin,

and no deceit was found in his mouth.”

23When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 24“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” 25For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

If rocks could talk, if stones could speak...

Day 12 of 14

NIV

1 Peter 2:4-8

Days

1 Peter 2:1-25