"HE is the living stone, rejected by people, but chosen by GOD, and precious to HIM; set yourselves close to HIM, so that, you, too, become living stones, built into a spiritual temple, a holy community of priests, offering spiritual sacrifices that please GOD, through JESUS CHRIST. Scripture says: See, I lay in Zion a chosen and precious cornerstone; whoever believes in HIM will not be disappointed.
This means honor, for you who believed, but for unbelievers, also the stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone and it is a stone to stumble over, a rock which lays people low. They stumble over it, in rejecting the word, but the plan of GOD is fulfilled in this.
You are a chosen race, a community of priest-kings, a consecrated nation, a people GOD has made HIS own, to proclaim HIS wonders. For HE called you, from your darkness, to HIS own wonderful light." - 1 Peter 2:4-9
(Two words stand out in this paragraph: stones and priests. They speak about what the new Christians will be.
You are stones. GOD's presence in HIS people is the stone which stands out and on which, all those who neither saw nor took notice of HIM, stumbled [Isaiah 8:14]. In another sense, JESUS is the stone rejected by the builders, which becomes the foundation of a new building: this is the new people of GOD that arises from the remnant of Israel and then extends to all nations. Christians are the stones of this Church: living stones because each one has an active part to play in the Church, the body of CHRIST [Ephesians 4:12-16].
You will also be priests. To understand what this means, we must read GOD's words to Moses in Exodus 19:5. GOD decided then to become present in the world and to transform the course of history through a people of HIS own which would be Israel. Peter tells us: "The real people of GOD, the true Israel, are you who have accepted CHRIST." We, who are baptized, do not form one more religion: we are an active minority and the leaven of the world.
We are priests in the sense this word had for ancient people: those who know, those who risk coming close to GOD. We were made responsible for the mission of preparing men and women so that salvation may mature in them. People and nations may discover their common destiny and, in the end, admit that they cannot solve their problems without making the Gospel the law of their whole lives.
A Christian aware of his dignity as a priestly member of the people of GOD, by sheer gift and grace cannot but proclaim HIS wonders. This is what evangelization is all about. These Christians are a chosen race, a community of priest-kings called to proclaim the Gospel.)
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