The Chief Cornerstone

A Reflection on the Psalm for Sunday, April 27th, 2025:
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 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.

Save us, we beseech you, O Lord! O Lord, we beseech you, give us success! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. We bless you from the house of the Lord. The Lord is God, and he has given us light. 

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

Pause. Pray. Reflect.

Have you ever reached a point where the only words left to say were, “Thank you, Lord Jesus”? I have – and in those moments I've known deep within, “This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.”

“Let Israel say, ‘His steadfast love endures forever.’” Let the house of Aaron say it. Let those who fear the Lord say it. These words echo in my heart when I reflect on God’s mercy through life’s storms. I recall the peak of the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic, a time when news of death filled the airwaves and uncertainty gripped the world. Yet, while many were laid off or lost loved ones, God spared my family, friends, and neighbours and preserved my job. That was not by chance. It was because of His steadfast love.

When churches reopened, social distancing regulations did not allow the choir to sing at Mass, so I gladly volunteered to read and lead hymns during Mass. I wasn’t trying to show off; I was testifying. Like the psalmist, I could boldly say, “The Lord is my strength and my might; He has become my salvation.” 

But the trials didn’t end with the pandemic. One painful memory stands out. My coworkers and I disagreed and were called into a meeting. Each person was asked to share their side. As one colleague spoke, she twisted the truth, spewing lies about me. My heart sank. I sat in shock, eyes filled with tears. Another coworker joined in, backing the lies. It felt planned, as if they had conspired to make me the scapegoat.

When I calmly spoke up and said she was lying, she raised her hand to slap me but stopped mid-air. I thought, if I had done the same, I’d likely be fired and reported to immigration. Many of us are far from home, trying to survive and support our family. Yet God reminds me, “It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to put confidence in mortals.”

“The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.” This scripture defines my journey. From rejection, shame, and false accusations, God raised me up. In moments of silence, pain, and waiting, I learned to praise.

With each tear, in every misunderstanding, and through all the loneliness, the Word has taught me to say, “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it" – not because the pain disappeared, but because God's love remained.

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, thank You for turning trials into testimonies. Thank You for being the Defender, the Light, and the Salvation of the World. May I never stop rejoicing in Your goodness, no matter what comes. In Jesus' Name, Amen.


Michaelina Dawson-Otoo​

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