Lent
March 20, 2018
Scripture Reading: Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29
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.
Save us, we beseech you, O Lord!
O Lord, we beseech you, give us success! –Psalm 118:21-25
Is Christ the cornerstone of our lives? The cornerstone (or foundation stone or setting stone) is the first stone set in the construction of a masonry foundation, important since all other stones will be set in reference to this stone, thus determining the position of the entire structure
Is Jesus’ life the reference point for all we do? It seems we are morphing more and more into a “me first” society. We make decisions based on what is in it for us. Particularly apparent in the white privilege attitudes, the idea distorts the most basic tenets of faith based on love for all and the understanding that all are made in the image of God.
It is possible that white privilege stems from a feeling that if one is not better than others he or she is not a person of worth. I do not know from where that type of thinking derives. Does it stem from what seems to be a natural human trait of being competitive with one another? Competition can be fun and can push us toward higher goals, and competition has nothing whatsoever to do with proving anyone’s individual worth.
I once watched attorneys battle out a case in court with great emotion each doing the best for his client. When the case ended they met at the back of the courtroom and one said, “Want to get some lunch.” Sports, when done correctly, is also a great outlet for our competitive tendencies. Sportsmanship is the art of competing fairly and honestly while gracefully accepting the results.
When we live within a system that recognizes any kind of privilege, we are neither fair nor honest regarding what is right or what is just, and we never experience gracefully accepting results because the system is always rigged for us to win.
Most carpenters and bricklayers, even the highly skilled ones, do not rely on their ability to sight a straight line with their eyes alone. They used some type of level to make sure everything is aligned. Our external level is Jesus Christ. The only way we may see our world objectively is to allow him to show us what it looks like through his eyes.
Prayer: God of Justice, help us align closely with our cornerstone, Jesus Christ so that we hold up our responsibility of maintaining a society that is in sync with God’s purpose for all. Amen.
*https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornerstone