Peace Circle

Scripture Soundings - Fifth Sunday of Easter 1 Peter 2:9 - You are a people called out of darkness into wonderful light.


Building a Home

Have you ever noticed the progress of a house under construction? If it's on a route you go by regularly, you can learn much about the routine of new construction. There has to be leadership--usually a general contractor. It is this person's responsibility to coordinate all the work. Each person brings his/her own gifts to the job site.

First the foundation is built. Block by block it rises, each block depending on the previous one--each one bound distantly to the first block. Once the foundation is done, frames for subsequent rooms are nailed and filled with wires, pipes, and insulation. Drywall covers the interior as the house heads toward decoration and ultimate completion. Today's readings show us a similar construction plan.


Neighborly picket fence, with peaceful blue sky above, and friendly green grass below.

Fifth Sunday of Easter - Scripture Soundings

First Reading: Acts 6:1-7
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 33:1-2, 4-5, 18-19
Second Reading: 1 Peter 2:4-9
Gospel: John 14:1-12

Comment

The construction crew for the early Church was established in Acts. Some dispute arose about who would do what and who did more than someone else. The Hellenists accused the Hebrews of shortchanging their widows. The disciples stepped in to help the community determine who the leaders would be and what their responsibilities were to be.

In his letter, Peter further shows that the foundation is poured. Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of the Church. He is a precious stone to those who believe. For them, he will be the foundation. For those who reject the stone, however, he will be the rock that causes them to stumble.

The construction continues as John describes in the Gospel how Jesus goes before all of us to prepare our rooms. We can only imagine what the room will look like and how its construction takes place, but we know for sure that God has called us to come to that room if only we accept the Son, the cornerstone. We are the living stones of the Church. We bring new life day after day, generation after generation, century after century.

Reflection

When we run into obstacles in life--at work, with our families, in volunteer work--we look for a new and creative approach to solve the problem. This involves looking at the situation in a new way. It seems that musicians are among some of the most creative people we know--and they should be. After all, they only have twelve notes to work with, but look at all they do with them! They look at these same notes differently each time they create a new composition.

As living stones of the Church, we are invited to look at things in a new way. We are called to be open and creative in our view of the world, to be enthusiastic about our mission. Our mission is but one block in the construction of the whole Church, small and inconsequential when we view it individually; but an integral part of a significant structure.

If we accept our place in this foundational structure, we are promised a room in the Father's house.

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Updated: May 11, 2008