Is Jesus Your Solid Cornerstone?

 

Deacon Dave · Is Jesus Your Solid Cornerstone?

Homily for the 4th Sunday of Easter, April 21, 2024. Book of Acts 4:8-12. Theme: Is Jesus the Cornerstone of Your Life? 

 Twice in this Sunday’s Scriptures we hear Jesus called the cornerstone. Both Psalm 118 and our reading from the Book of Acts 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 because we live in a time and place where stone buildings are not the architectural norm and so, unless you’re a stone mason, the analogy may be easily missed. 

 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 of the 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 factors can help us build a solid relationship with Jesus Christ who wants to be the Chief Cornerstone of our lives. 

 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. If so, then the building will be solid; but if not, then the structure is doomed to eventually fall. If we build our lives on such unpredictable things as relationships, money, occupation, personal appearance or politics, then it’s the same thing as choosing a less-than-ideal foundation stone. We have countless examples in the news all the time of how building one’s life on material success, personal appearance, acclaim from others and social popularity fail to bring deep-down authentic happiness and security. Just look at the many celebrity lives that appear to be ideal but, more often than not, are really broken on the inside and so often end in tragedy. 

 And so, we need to honestly ask ourselves, “Is my knowledge about Jesus and my relationship with him solid? Is it built upon a proper and secure understanding of just who he is and why I can trust 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 (which means no other person) in whom we can find the forgiveness, healing and stability we need for our lives. 

 Second, the cornerstone provides the reference point for everything else. The whole structure is laid out in relation to that vital stone and out according to the blueprint designed for it. You know, so often people’s life-decisions and moral standards are based upon current popular opinion or on whatever propaganda is being promoted by social media. But as Christians, we’re called to make Jesus our Cornerstone and his teachings our reference point. This means that in building our lives we look to the blueprint that he has laid out for us in the Gospels and that are further explained for us in the various writings of the New Testament. These are the reference points that give us the balance and bearings we need to stand strong against the ups and downs that are sure to come our way. So, if we want to build and maintain a truly happy and meaningful life then we must begin by taking on Jesus’ manner of thinking, Jesus’ example of acting, Jesus’ rules for happy living and Jesus’ way of loving, which means God-first, others-second, and ourselves-last. 

 Finally, the cornerstone supports 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 rests completely on this particular stone, without which it would utterly collapse! This is precisely how our lives must be: founded upon a rock-solid faith relationship with Jesus that is firmly grounded in trust. When the burdens of health, the worry of finances or the stresses of relationships weigh upon us, there's only one Cornerstone capable of handling the pressure without cracking. When we are pulled one way or the other with the many cares and demands of work and family, there's only one Cornerstone that can keep our hope solid and our love strong. And that one and only sure foundation is, of course, Jesus Christ. 

 Just as construction workers need to have the proper equipment to get the job done, so we need to ask the Holy Spirit to help us skillfully use the tools of the spiritual trade that have been given for this very purpose. These include such things as developing a habit of personal prayer from the heart; of reading the Word of God and applying it to our lives; of receiving the Risen Christ in the Eucharist with faith and mindfulness and not simply out of routine or habit; and in trying to live as best we can guided by his Gospel teachings. Let’s ask for the grace and blessing to make Jesus the Cornerstone of our lives, to look to him as our Reference Point in all that we do, and to trust in him alone to be the Foundation we need to build a life that is both holy and happy, pleasing to God, to others, and to ourselves.