Eastertide
April 23, 2014

Read Scripture: Psalm 118: 1-2, 14-24

I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation.
The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.
This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.
This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.— Psalm 118:21 

Is Christ our cornerstone? I have never laid brick but I have placed tile and know from experience that if the first tile is not exactly in the right place all the rest will not be either. Even more importantly, the further one gets from an offline beginning tile the worse the wall or floor begins to look. It is a paradox, but when we are in alignment with Christ, we are in truer alignment with who we really are. That equates to wholeness, something that is woefully missing in our world today—wholeness within individuals and wholeness among the various grouping of people including the church. 

I probably should not watch or read the news as it often troubles my soul. Perhaps God wants my soul to be troubled so that I and others will step up and do something about bringing wholeness to our fragmented world. This week a student apparently randomly stabbed 20+ fellow students. Last week a soldier, probably suffering from PTSD, shot several of his fellow soldiers. But this week a young college tennis player instigated a program of encouraging early teens to value themselves enough to eat right and get good exercise. Next week I will attend a presentation by a man who traveled to Africa with a group to bring a balm of love to those working in extremely stressful circumstances. 

We know our cornerstone is true, which makes our task much easier. We are called to place our tiles true to Christ’s and help others find that alignment in their lives too. 

The newspaper or evening news is a great source of prayer topics. In praying for those who are victims or predators, we might find our cause to help others align to the cornerstone. We might also see the examples of others who are already making a difference. 

Prayer: God, grant me wholeness and help me be a source of others finding their wholeness through you. Amen. 

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.