A Merciful Craftsman

A Reflection on the Psalm for April 11th, 2021:
Divine Mercy Sunday

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Psalm 118

R. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his steadfast love endures forever.

Let Israel say, “His steadfast love endures forever.” Let the house of Aaron say, “His steadfast love endures forever.” Let those who fear the Lord say, “His steadfast love endures forever.” 

R. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his steadfast love endures forever.

“The right hand of the Lord is exalted; the right hand of the Lord does valiantly.” I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the Lord. The Lord has punished me severely, but he did not give me over to death. 

R. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his steadfast love endures forever.

The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvellous in our eyes. This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. 

R. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his steadfast love endures forever.

Pause. Pray.

And then read more...

Reading these verses in the reverse order opened my heart to this “song of victory”. It was sung by many of God’s builders of ancient history, by those who foretold the setting of the Chief Cornerstone, and by those for whom its preeminence was unknown. It is appropriate, then, that my backwards approach is revelatory in the same way that the Cornerstone was set in place long after the components of His temple sang of His arrival. It is only once Jesus finally comes to fulfill this position—to sing this song of victory Himself—that the true Temple would then be built.


In the dependent relationship between an unborn child and her mother, what goes into the body of the woman shapes the outcome of the growing fetus. In this same way, the actions of each of the professed members of the Body of Christ either nourishes, builds-up, accentuates, and augments the architectural genius of the Temple, or they will compromise its beauty, synchronicity, and integrity.


Some will build without the Cornerstone, which will provide a shelter for a short time before it inevitably shifts, twists, and falls with the burdens laid upon it. I was one of these: a careless builder placing stone after stone on shifting sand—vulnerable without the crux of its construction. I could always sense the fragility of my existence in these days, though my error eluded me.


"The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone."


My security now lies in the Chief Cornerstone—not in the subsequent building blocks, nor in any of the other dazzling trimmings or trappings which adorn His temple. Though they may compliment, cooperate with, and even align with the Cornerstone at times, they cannot take His place. They too will be weathered by life; removed and replaced when they crack and break away. But the Cornerstone remains—steadfast, whole, and integral to the alignment of all of the other stones in the structure.


"The Lord has punished me severely, but he did not give me over to death." 


My own action or inaction, the weathering effect of the environment, and the sharp blows of injury cast upon me, will cause me to shift and crumble—but none of these effects are beyond His restorative mercy. He holds steady, strong, and true, while He simultaneously provides His own Merciful Craftsman in the Holy Spirit to patch up, re-set, and plumb the line of my heart so that it is once again securely in place; even able to uphold and guide the stones built around it.


"Let Israel say, “His steadfast love endures forever.” Let the house of Aaron say, “His steadfast love endures forever.” Let those who fear the Lord say, “His steadfast love endures forever.”" 





Praise You, Lord of mercy, that we may build and rebuild upon You, and You will hold fast. May we abide in You, listen to You, acknowledge You, and accept You. May we exult You, believe in You, and be still with You. We praise You, Lord Jesus, for Your steadfastness of love. We praise You, Lord Jesus, for we find our security in You.

Amen




Lori MacDonald

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