Fifth Sunday of Easter

The early Church had a distribution problem. The community was growing faster than its systems, and the Hellenist widows were being left out. The Twelve named the problem honestly, brought the whole community into the solution, and appointed seven trustworthy men to close the gap. The word of God continued to spread. Even priests were becoming obedient to the faith. The community that took care of its most vulnerable grew. This is not a coincidence.

Peter tells you what you are: a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own - called out of darkness into wonderful light. In your twenties, this designation can feel abstract. You may not feel chosen. You may not feel like royalty or holiness is a word that describes you accurately. Peter is not asking you to feel it. He is telling you what is true. The cornerstone was rejected by human beings and chosen by God. If the cornerstone can be rejected and precious at the same time, so can you. The identity is given; the question is whether you will receive it or keep arguing with it.

Jesus says whoever believes in him will do greater works than he has done. The Upper Room is full of disciples who do not yet understand what they are capable of - Thomas doesn't know the way, Philip can't see the Father who has been in the room the whole time. Jesus is not exasperated by this. He answers every question with himself: I am the way. You have already seen the Father. Stay close to me and the greater works will follow. The greater works are not reserved for the people who have everything figured out. They are available to the ones who remain in the relationship.

You are a living stone being built into a spiritual house. Find one community this month - a parish, a campus ministry, a service organization, a friend group gathered around faith - and show up to it. Not as a visitor. As a stone that is willing to be fitted. The spiritual house is built of people who stay long enough to matter to the people next to them.

Lord, I am chosen and precious in your sight even when I don't feel it. Help me receive what you say I am before I try to act like it. And show me where the greater works are waiting - in the person being missed, in the community I have been circling without fully entering, in the ordinary acts of faithfulness that add up to something I cannot yet see. Alleluia. Amen.