Is Jesus the Cornerstone of Your Life?

 

Deacon David Previtali · Is Jesus the Cornerstone of Your Life?

Homily for the 4th Sunday of Easter, April 25, 2021. Psalm 118; Book of Acts 4:812. Theme: Is Jesus the Cornerstone of Your Life? 

Twice in today’s Scriptures we hear Jesus called the cornerstone. Both Psalm 118 and St. Peter praise him saying, “the stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.” But, what does that mean? Perhaps it’s not immediately clear to us is because we live in a time when stone buildings are not the architectural norm and so we miss the analogy. But the people of biblical times didn’t miss it. They knew firsthand that a cornerstone was the most important part of any structure because there are three vital things that it does: it provides a solid foundation, it acts as a reference point for the entire construction project, and it supports the weight of a building no matter what comes its way. With this in mind, let’s take a look at how these three things can help us build a solid relationship with Christ. 

First, the cornerstone is laid down before anything can be built. The soundness and durability of a structure’s foundation depends upon the cornerstone being securely and properly put into place. And so, we need to honestly ask ourselves, “Is my knowledge about Jesus and my relationship with him built upon a proper and secure understanding of just who he is and why I can entrust my life to him? In today’s first reading, St. Peter helps us out here by reminding us that Jesus of Nazareth is the only one chosen by God to bring salvation to the human race; that there is no one else, no other Name, in which we can find the power and healing we need for our lives. Too often, we build our lives on weak and undependable cornerstones such as dreams, relationships, money, careers. And then, we try to fit Jesus and our Christianity into it, somehow. But this isn’t the way to build if we want a life that won’t come tumbling down when dangers threaten us! Jesus must be first and foundational in our lives if we hope to weather the storms that are sure to come our way! This primacy of Jesus in our life has to be non-negotiable. 

Second, the cornerstone provides the reference point for everything else. If that stone is solid, the building will be solid; but if there is an interior crack in it, then the structure is doomed to eventually fall. If we build our lives from the reference point of self-centered pursuits and approval from others, it’s the same things as having a fault deep within the foundation stone. It might look good and work for us for a while, but it’s going to come fall apart! We have countless examples of how building a life on material success and social popularity fail to bring deep-down authentic happiness. Just look at the daily news and see how many celebrity lives, more often than not, become broken and end in tragedy. But as Christians, we’re called to make Jesus and his Gospel our reference point in building our lives. This is what gives us the balance and bearings we need to stand strong against the ups and downs that are sure to come our way. This means that if we want to build a truly happy and meaningful life then we must take on Jesus’ way of thinking, Jesus’ way of acting, Jesus’ way of living and loving which means God-first, Others-second, and Ourselves-last. The blueprints God gives us to construct such a life are the Gospel of Christ and the teachings of his Catholic Church. 

Finally, the cornerstone holds up the entire structure. As construction progresses, the cornerstone not only provides strength to the walls, but it also holds everything else together! The total weight of a building rested completely on this particular stone, without which it would utterly collapse! This is precisely how our lives must be: grounded and founded upon a rock-solid faith relationship with Jesus. When the burdens of health, finances or relationships weigh upon us, there's only one cornerstone capable of handling the pressure. When we are pulled one way or the other with the many cares and demands of work and family, there's only one cornerstone we can trust to keep our lives solid and strong. And that one and only sure foundation is Jesus Christ. 

Now, it’s true that this endeavor of building our lives upon the cornerstone that is Christ is challenging, but it’s also very doable. We just need to trust in Jesus, in whose Name alone we find the power to do what needs to be done. And we need ask the Holy Spirit to help us skillfully use of the tools of the spiritual trade that we have been given for this very purpose, such as praying from the heart, reading the Word of God and applying it to our lives, receiving Christ in the Eucharist with faith and mindfulness, and trying to live as best we can according to the teachings of Christ. When we receive Christ in Holy Communion this morning, let’s ask him for the grace and blessing to make him the cornerstone of our lives, to look to him as our reference point in all that we do, and to trust in him alone for the strength and stability we need to build a life that is holy and pleasing to God and to others.