Living Stones

Dear Friends

Hiking is a great way to relax. The sight of the rugged mountain ranges never fail to amaze me. Each individual mountain has a different shape and contour. Every mountain is unique, and yet together they all form a single massif, one unit. Motionless and rigid, they stand in the landscape, radiant and upright, alive and majestic. They stand as witnesses to past times or even epochs.

Awesome Wonder

When I look at the world of mountains and all of their ranges, a certain awe rises up inside of me, reaching toward the one who created all of this. I remind myself that these mountains were here before me. And they will still be standing long after we are gone. Rocks outlive us. Just think of the gravestone. They bear witness to one who has gone before us in death. The gravestone remains even when the name has withered away and long been forgotten.

You Are Living Stones

We are living stones, something very strong. Rocks are the foundation on which we stand, on which houses, monuments, dams, and bridges are built. In tonight’s Second Reading from Peter’s First Letter, the author speaks of Christ Jesus as a living stone. Not just any stone, but “a cornerstone, chosen and precious”. One, that can unite, but also one “that will make people stumble, and a rock that will make them fall.”. This metaphor of a stone tries to show us what the Church is founded upon: Jesus, the risen Christ.

There have been and still are and probably always will be opinions about the institution of the Catholic Church. Claims and opinions that have little to do with the charisma of Jesus from Nazareth. That is why this analogy of Jesus as the living stone is so important.

Peter, a witness to Christ, writes: "Let yourselves be built into a spiritual house".

And Jesus invites us to follow him.

We Are Invited

Friends, this is a great invitation. We, as living stones, receive a share, a part, in building the Church. Did you know that? Christ, however, is “a stone that will make people stumble. Jesus remains a stumbling stone for many people. The statements he makes about himself are indisputable, straightforward, and maybe almost arrogant: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, then you will also know my Father.” In order for Jesus to say this, he had to die. Jesus is not a god of stone, nor is he an idol, but a living God whose message challenges us and at times even overwhelms us. This can be a stumbling block for those who are self-centered and self-determined. If we take this message seriously, what might we have to change in our lives? In our First Reading from the Acts of the Apostles, we hear that there were some who were being neglected in the distribution of goods. It was about the Greek-speaking Jewish Christians, Jews or non-Jews who were helpless and in need of support, namely the widows. So, the community was called together to discuss the situation and they took the necessary steps in order to eliminate this injustice.

Christ is the cornerstone

God knows that faith in His invisible presence is not easy. God understands our struggles and doubts in believing in something that cannot be proven by empirical methods. So, God tries to speak to us in a human language. First, through His creation - through the wonders of nature such as the mountain peaks or the depths of the sea. He strengthens and encourages us through the words of His prophets. His love for His beloved people is so great that He even lived the life of a human being. In Jesus Christ, the living and invisible God speaks words of comfort and inspiration: "Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God. Have faith also in me. In my Father's house, there are many dwelling places."

Dear Brothers and Sisters

We are between Easter and Pentecost. It is not an empty space between two important religious feasts. With the sending of the Holy Spirit onto his disciples, and to all, who seek God with open and joyful hearts, God builds up His church. It is no longer bloody sacrificial animals that are to be offered to the Invisible God. The old covenant is renewed by living stones. It is now the Baptised and the Confirmed in Christ Jesus, who build up the spiritual house of peace, justice, and the preservation of creation.

The Church, a House of Many Stones

When I look at the mountains, I am in awe of what God has created.& It is the same when I look at the Church, it is a house of many stones. In it, we find different personalities, different contours and shapes. We might not always agree with each other - but together we belong to the same Church of Christ. We are the living stones, held together by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus Christ is the beginning and the end, the Alpha and the Omega.

Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. Blessed be Jesus Christ.

Amen.

Fr. Kurt