27th Sunday Ordinary Time – “It is Marvelous in our Eyes!”

Hypothesis: We really have only one way of relating to God, self, and others.  We employ our patterned responses to everything and everyone.  Thus, “the stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone…” tells us that whatever and whomever we reject for whatever personal reason mirrors what we reject in Christ and in ourselves.

Seems to me, then, that the work spiritual discipline has to do with inhabiting our wounded, patterned hearts, exploring therein, and discovering Christ who has always been there.  We thus find ourselves replaced gradually as the cornerstone by Christ, the True Cornerstone.  Who Christ is becomes gradually clearer as we gain clarity about ourselves.  it is amazing in our eyes!

Let us praise our God!

Marvelous, wonderful, amazing = thaumastos

Matthew 21:42 (NRSV) — 42 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the scriptures: ‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is amazing in our eyes’?

Exodus 15:11–13 (NRSV) — 11 “Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in splendor, doing wonders? 12 You stretched out your right hand, the earth swallowed them. 13 “In your steadfast love you led the people whom you redeemed; you guided them by your strength to your holy abode.

Psalm 65:5 (NRSV) — 5 By awesome deeds you answer us with deliverance, O God of our salvation; you are the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas.

Psalm 118:22f (NRSV) — 22 The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. 23 This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.

Job 42:3 (NRSV) — 3 ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.

Wisdom of Solomon 19:7f (NRSV) — 7 The cloud was seen overshadowing the camp, and dry land emerging where water had stood before, an unhindered way out of the Red Sea, and a grassy plain out of the raging waves, 8 where those protected by your hand passed through as one nation, after gazing on marvelous wonders.

Sirach 11:4 (NRSV) — 4 Do not boast about wearing fine clothes, and do not exalt yourself when you are honored; for the works of the Lord are wonderful, and his works are concealed from humankind.

Sirach 43:29f (NRSV) — 29 Awesome is the Lord and very great, and marvelous is his power. 30 Glorify the Lord and exalt him as much as you can, for he surpasses even that. When you exalt him, summon all your strength, and do not grow weary, for you cannot praise him enough.

Micah 7:15f (NRSV) — 15 As in the days when you came out of the land of Egypt, show us marvelous things. 16 The nations shall see and be ashamed of all their might; they shall lay their hands on their mouths; their ears shall be deaf;