A good artist can take something other people overlook and make it beautiful - a leaf, a pebble, or even a scuff or a scratch. An artist knows how to set something simple in an environment where its inner beauty shines.

God is the ultimate artist. God can take each of us, no matter how beautiful or ugly we are outside or inside, and turn us into a vision of glory.

The first letter of Peter calls us stones, material that can be overlooked or used for building. Jesus was a living stone that many people rejected. But God the artist found what was precious in Jesus the stone. The letter says, “like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices.” If we come to Christ, the living stone, he will fashion us into something remarkable.

Other people may not appreciate our inner beauty. They may not notice the gifts we have. They may not know how we can grace their lives. They may even make us feel useless. But God finds us most useful. We are living stones, pleasing to God through Jesus Christ.

Some people overlook what good Christians think and do. They build arsenals rather than feed the hungry. They sever relationships rather than grant forgiveness. They squander time rather than use it for the good. But God appreciates the good we do and builds us up as living stones.

Written by Paul Turner. Liturgy Training Publications
Copyright 2004, Archdiocese of Chicago