One With the Many

May 18 5th Sunday of Easter: 

A thought for those who want to reveal the risen Jesus in their lifestyle.

Acts 6:1-7; Psalm 33:1-2, 4-5, 18-19; 1 Peter 2:4-9; John 14:1-2

“The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.” 1 Peter 2:7

Christians are “like living stones,” being “built into a spiritual house.” This means:

1. We have to be “living stones,” alive with the life of God. This is our identity as Christians.

2. We are being formed. We are not yet a finished product, but as disciples are learning, growing spiritually as part of a structured community, a “spiritual house.”

3. We know we are prophets when, like Christ, we are “rejected by the builders.” The prophets suffer resistance and rejection by their peer groups, packaged with persecution by those in power—sometimes even by the hierarchy, who tend to see their role as that of stabilizing authority, not of groundbreaking prophecy. It is natural they sometimes see prophets as a threat.

Regardless, true prophets never separate from the Church. As conscious members of “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation,” they continue to “promote the body’s growth in building itself up in love” (Ephesians 4:16). The only authentic Spirit is the Spirit of love.

Pope Francis compares the Holy Spirit to Babel: he causes division in the Church by inspiring prophetic innovations, but also creates unity through harmony (Genesis, 11:1-9; Andrea Tornielli, Francis, p.140).

When faith appears to divide, hope holds us together until love unites us.

PRAY: “Come, Holy Spirit, kindle in us the fire of your divine love.”

PRACTICE: Be yourself—as identified dynamically with others.