Prayer Icon Our Lady of Mt Carmel, Ridgewood

The Blessed Virgin Mary, St Nicholas Church, Tarpon Springs

April 24, 2005

Faith 1 Pt 2:4-9

Beloved: Come to him, a living stone, rejected by human beings but chosen and precious in the sight of God, 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. For it says in Scripture: Behold, I am laying a stone in Zion, a cornerstone, chosen and precious, and whoever believes in it shall not be put to shame. Therefore, its value is for you who have faith, but for those without faith: The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone, and a stone that will make people stumble, and a rock that will make them fall. They stumble by disobeying the word, as is their destiny.

You are "a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may announce the praises" of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

I come to this reading after just having seen the live broadcast of the completion of the Mass of Pope Benedict XVI. It is with hope for the Church and the faithful that we can build up the faith. We are each of us the living stones of the Church.

Pope Benedict XVI spoke of not being afraid of loosing a part of ourselves in opening ourselves to Christ, to open wide the doors to Christ. It is a total love to be able to let go and be completely filled with the light and way of Christ. I pray for this humble and life giving light for the Pope and for each living stone of the Church around the world. The word of God is our way out of the darkness.