| "Come to him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God's sight, and like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." 1 Peter 2:4-5 |
| Reflection: |
As a child, I was fascinated by rocks and started a collection. In the rock pile outside my house, I discovered a curiously long and slender purple stone. On a vacation, I collected samples of rough rose quartz and delicate mica from the Black Hills. From a pond near my grandparents' home I gathered earth-toned rocks smoothed from years of water washing over them. The rocks I gathered were shaped gradually over the years by the forces of God's nature. Wind, water, heat, cold and dust. My stones were tangible pieces of creation, displaying individual beauty and collective diversity.
We, God's people, are being crafted by the the Holy Spirit breathing on us like water rushing over rocks in a stream. But unlike rocks, we are alive. We are alive in Christ.
Jesus is our living stone — a strong and sure foundation, responsive to the needs of humanity and creation. Rocks are rigid, changing slowly only over long periods of time. Living stones are fluid, responding to the changing needs of God's creation and growing in faith and community.
The rocks I collected years ago have not changed much. The living stones of God's kingdom continually transform and grow in Christ. |