Scripture: Psalm 118:22-24
The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Thought for the Day: The last day of General Assembly just might have been the single most energizing/spirit-filled worship experience I have ever known. The Rev. William J. Barber II was our preacher. He is the voice of the new Poor People’s Campaign, a rebirth of Dr. King’s vision. I don’t care who you are or where you sit on the political or social spectrum, he will challenge you and bring some pretty major discomfort to your life. And all he does is preach the scriptures, often reading them to us in big chunks. From the prophets to Jesus, there are some disquieting passages that are too often watered down or dismissed all together. With that said, he referenced these words from Psalm 118, specifically focusing on the words: Rejected and Cornerstone. As Christians, we have designated Jesus as the Cornerstone, and though that is not a bad interpretation, Barber talked about all those who have been rejected who have become the cornerstones, part of the foundation, organizers, voices or even martyrs in the building of the next God-thing. Barber, and I believe accurately, describes a coming day (which is today) when the rejected of the world are going to be the cornerstones of the new thing God is doing. And this new thing is going to leave no stone of the former empire of greed and hate standing. If you’re like me, I have not known much rejection. If anything, there are ways that I might not be on the right side of the new thing God is doing. But just because I may not know rejection like others, I can still become an advocate and proponent of this new thing.
Prayer: Oh my, oh my! There are moments, Lord, when your spirit-filled vision knocks the wind out of me while at the same time spills into me with power. We have become so content with the way things are that we see minuscule changes as earth-shaking transformation. Oh my, oh my! I don’t know if I’m ready for what you are doing. Oh my, oh my…I want to be ready for the new things you are doing among us and with us. Amen.
