FRIDAY, EASTER OCTAVE
Acts 4: 1-12 Ps 118: 1-2, 4, 22-27 Jn 21: 1-14
THE REJECTED STONE
The response for the psalm of today, reflects a reversal of fortunes, a theme often found in biblical literature: something deemed insignificant or rejected becomes central or foundational. In ancient construction, the cornerstone was a crucial foundational stone. It was laid first to ensure the building’s alignment and stability. Builders would inspect stones carefully, and any that seemed unsuitable for this critical role would be discarded.
The rejected stone could represent Israel itself – the small, seemingly insignificant nation was chosen by God to fulfil a pivotal role in His divine plan – or an individual within Israel, like King David, whom others dismissed as incompetent but whom God vindicated. In the New Testament, this phrase is applied directly to Jesus Christ, as a prophetic and Messianic fulfilment. For example, The religious leaders, who considered Jesus unfit and rejected Him, inadvertently set the stage for God to reveal His power and wisdom. Christ, the rejected one, became the foundation of our faith and hope.
In the Gospel, we encounter the disciples who, in their dejection and hopelessness at the death of Jesus, return to their old occupation of fishing. They toil all night but catch nothing. This is a reminder of how human efforts, without Christ, often fall short. Yet the presence of the risen Lord transforms emptiness into abundance. In our lives, we may feel rejected, sidelined, or inadequate. There are moments when our efforts seem fruitless, much like the night of fishing for the disciples. But God specializes in turning rejection into renewal. Just as Jesus transformed the disciples’ failure into a miraculous catch, He can take the broken, rejected parts of our lives and use them for His glory. Let us trust in His power to transform rejection into redemption and scarcity into abundance, knowing that the cornerstone of our faith is steadfast and unshakable.
Response: The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.
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