CHRIST OUR CORNERSTONE

 

CHRIST ouR CoRNERSToNE

 

“The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock.” – Matthew 7:25

 

For 16 years, I attended a Catholic school where Christian Living was a core subject. I remember how things seemed so simple then,  so black and white. When I graduated from high school, I began to realize that the world isn’t always black and white. There are many “gray areas” — experiences that will hurt, confuse and challenge you. These moments test us. It’s when the rains, floods and strong winds of our lives come that we see just the kind of foundation our houses are built on.

Today’s Gospel reminds us that the strongest foundation of them all is Jesus Christ. With Him as the cornerstone of our lives, we will not be destroyed.

Just as the words from the Breastplate of St. Patrick says, let’s bind ourselves to God’s power to lead us, teach us and watch over us. Cess Cosico

 

REFLECTION:

What is the foundation of your life? Is it something that will crumble and fall?

 

Lord, You are my Sure Foundation.

 

cling tO gOd’s WORd even When it huRts

 

I have a priest-friend who was abruptly transferred to another parish. Since it was a very short notice and the priest didn’t have enough time to explain the reason for his transfer, rumormongers had a feast. Words like, “Perhaps he impregnated someone,” or “For sure, he committed some scandal” spread like wild fire. He was aware that unfortunate things like that happen in such situations — disgruntled parishioners getting back at their former parish priest, gossipers making it their business to ruin other people’s lives, etc. He was almost tempted to return and get back at those people who have spread lies about him. But good sense and judgment prevailed on him. He knew that God is a just God and that He will not let His servants down.

And true enough, his vindication came — his new parishioners loved him and his ministry prospered like never before while the rumormongers lived a miserable and lonely life with superficial relationships, not that God caused them, but because people trusted them less because of their dubious ways.

All of us surely have found ourselves in situations like this in the past — when we are almost tempted to let go of the norms of goodness to push for our agenda, to execute a plan, to make our way to the top, to place ourselves in a good light. The Lord says in today’s Gospel that His Words should become the foundation of our lives. Doing things our way will only give us fleeting and momentary joy. Doing things the Lord’s way will give us greater happiness. So even if the world tells otherwise, we need to trust that clinging to God’s Word is the only way to have moral stability. Fr. Sandy V. Enhaynes

 

Reflection Question:

Are you experiencing persecution right now? What do you think Jesus would do in a situation like that? Then do as He would have done.

 

Lord Jesus, help me to always cling to Your Word, no matter what. I know that You are a just God and would not  let injustice prevail.

 

St. Francis Xavier, Priest, pray for us.