Memorial of Saint Justin, Martyr
Today’s Gospel reading cites the well-known passage about the stone rejected becoming the cornerstone. Builders considered the cornerstone as a symbol of strength on which the entire edifice could be built. The stone had to be solid, no cracks, since architecture of the time piled stone on stone and so the foundation bore the weight of the entire building. Another building metaphor found in the bible is the story of the man who built on sand, which of course would be the opposite of strong cornerstone. The image of the cornerstone may provide us with the opportunity to reflect on our “cornerstones.” A quick check on the direction of our lives can be made by considering the models for our lives. The church holds out models for us, and these are the saints. A walk through any institution reveals its models, or its “saints.” Posters and quotes reveal who and what an institution identifies as its cornerstones. Show me your “saints” and I will understand your values.