[From the version for families with children]
Imagine: a robot was able to be placed on Mars! This was back in the spring of 1997. We could sit here on earth, at least 35 million miles away and look at the surface of that planet up close. We could see the very rocks! One of the jobs of the scientists was to give names to many rocks so that they could refer to them later. These rocks became like persons—something like “pet rocks” which was the Christmas gift craze about thirty years ago.
There is a story among Jewish people that tells how each rock was chosen to become part of the great temple. One rock just wouldn’t fit; it was rejected and thrown down a cliff into a pile of garbage. The time came when the Temple was almost completed, but they still needed to fill in an odd-shaped hole. They looked and looked among the refuse, at last finding the rock that was rejected. It became the most important rock for the Temple!
St. Peter has this story in mind in the passage for today. The rock of Jesus which was rejected, has become the cornerstone of the living Temple of God which is Jesus’ risen body.
You are like a special rock—unique size, shape, color and personality. Perhaps others might ignore you, but God has a very special place for you in the living stone which is Jesus.
Find out all about Bible Breaths Learn More…
A Sample from today’s reading:
The pure milk of the Scripture v. 2
Thursdays are dedicated to the letters of Paul, other letters,
the Book of Acts, and the Book of Revelation.
In the seasons of Advent through Epiphany this year,
we read the letters of Peter.
For all the Firestarters in the original version, I recommend the ebook. You will have the entire program of well over a thousand of these Firestarters with you on your phone or tablet. Check the menu options at the site for more information.
The Bible Through the Seasons 