The Cornerstone

Yesterday's Gospel Lesson (Matthew 21:33-46) could not have been a better fit for either the Feast of Saint Francis or the times we are experiencing now. It ends with Jesus speaking of himself as the cornerstone. I've been to the dedication of a government building, and watched as the cornerstone was laid with great ceremony on the foundation that gave the outline of the building that was to be. In historical usage that cornerstone was the point of reference for the construction that was to follow. The challenge is to make Jesus our cornerstone and build our lives with reference to him.

In a time in Italian history when the pursuit of wealth had created enormous disparity between the haves and the have-nots of society, Francis chose to make Jesus his cornerstone, and did so by rejecting not only wealth but possessions. He took for his bride "Lady Poverty" and founded a religious order of beggars--monks and nuns who trusted that God would provide for them. He became immensely popular, and soon was the head of a large following--with members taken not only from the poor, who found in his teachings the sanctification of their lives at the bottom of society, but also from the children of the very rich, who came to see that their lives at the top of society had been achieved at the expense of the poor.

For the past several years we have let the acquisition of wealth be the cornerstone of American society. Not surprisingly, the disparity between the have and the nave-nots in American have grown tremendously while our priorities have been askew. Now we are weathering the storm we have sown.

I am not saying that the only Christian response to our times is to reject possessions, but I do think that we need to build or lives taking our references from Jesus and not from greed. Our possessions are all gifts from God, to use in ways that serve God's purpose. Meeting our own needs is part of that purpose, but sharing with those in need is also a part. With Jesus as our cornerstone, we can learn to trust God will provide what we need, and face the uncertainties of the times with calm minds, peaceful hearts and open hands.

What do you think?

Mike+