Hi everyone,
I hope you’re well
In this week’s Gospel reading from Matthew 21:33–46, which I’m sure John will tell us all about, Jesus shares a parable about a landowner who builds a vineyard, only for the tenants to reject his servants and, ultimately, kill his son in an attempt to seize the inheritance.
Jesus uses this parable in a confrontation with religious leaders, and at the of it is a quote from Psalm 118: “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone….”
Jesus was pointing to Himself. He is the cornerstone, the foundation upon which the entire Kingdom of God rests.
A few of our extended family are struggling with serious illness and we are struggling to find a way forward for and with them. Though we felt guilty about it, we took a much needed few days away this weekend and I found myself wondering… what can we do? and more importantly… what is my cornerstone?
It is easy to build our lives on temporary foundations; careers, financial security, reputations, or our skills. But when the storms of life arrive, these sort of foundations shake and quickly crumble. I mean what does a career matter when a loved one is declining?
But this parable is a reminder that Jesus invites us to build our lives on Him, the cornerstone, the only sure foundation that never shakes or breaks. And so I prayed, handing to God all the stress I’ve been holding onto too tightly. I prayed for our loved ones, I prayed for us, I prayed for the ability to release stress and rest.
As we look ahead to this Sunday, I encourage you to reflect on where you are placing your faith. Are there areas of your life where you are acting like the tenants, trying to run things on your own terms? Or are you allowing Jesus to be the cornerstone of your decisions, your family, and your future?
Prayers with you all
Emma
Emma Major, LLM