Chip Away at the Stone

Whether one is a world renowned sculptor or a union carpenter, both, if they want to do their job well will work with patience, precision, and perseverance.  The triple “P” rule according to Fr. John, don’t even know if there is such a thing but it sounds nice.

Think of the carpenter, if he is working on a home he will have to measure wood, cut that wood, sand it, nail it, line it up, etc.  He has to work efficiently, but at the same time he must work with patience, take his time so he doesn't make a mistake.  He must work with precision in order to make sure everything lines up correctly, can you imagine a large wooden beam off by even a ¼ inch, the entire integrity of the home could be compromised.  The carpenter must also persevere in his building of the home because when he first begins there is nothing there and then as he continues in each moment day after day the structure begins to be revealed.  The same applies for the sculptor, she too must be patient, precise, and persevere.  Michelangelo did not create his masterpiece of King David in a day, it was a slow chipping away of the stone that would eventually reveal the great work.

There are two things that both the sculptor and carpenter do in common, they become one with their work, this includes their tools, their style, their entire craft, and they are totally immersed in their project.  So too with God in His relationship with us, He is totally immersed in us and like the carpenter and sculptor He meets us where we are at and then builds His masterpiece.  Each and every one of you is God’s masterpiece.  We are all different, different personalities, quirks, foibles, etc. it makes for an interesting world, but it shows that God cannot be summed up in one human being, except for Christ.  We all image the Trinity in and how we are molded and shaped by God.

God also requires that we become great sculptors \ carpenters to one another, especially those who are responsible for others, be they parents, coaches, teachers, mentors, priests, and deacons.  Each of us is commissioned to build masterpieces.  To do so however, requires what St. Paul speaks of in today’s 2^nd reading, “Although I am free in regard to all, I have made myself a slave to all so as to win over as many as possible.  To the weak I became weak, to win over the weak.  I have become all things to all, to save at least some.  All this I do for the sake of the gospel, so that I too may have a share in it.”

We need to understand people and meet them just where they are at.  St. Paul did this very well, he knew how to speak, shape and mold his Jewish brothers and sisters, and he did that a certain way, he also knew how engage the Gentiles, pagans, and unbelievers.  When he spoke to the elders of Greece he made reference to their unknown God and his dialogue took on the form of a philosopher that was something they would understand.  To quote to them books of the Old Testament prophets would have been lost on them.  When St. Paul dealt with Christians and Jews he used a different method by correlating prophecy and showing its fulfillment in Christ.  He became all things to all people, not just in a general sense but even so on an individual level.

God requires the same of us. We too are to build in the same fashion, and we are not just building homes, pieces of art, no, we are building up something of much more value and worth, priceless even, we are building up each other into the Kingdom of God.  However it takes the Triple “P” rule, patience, perseverance, and precision.  I know that when we desire change in ourselves or others we want it right away.  What we often hear as priests from people is, “I can’t believe my kids do not go to Church or they have abandoned their faith.”  You must chip away at the stone, slowly, accurately, and persevere.  God has done so with us, so too must we with each other.  If you remain so, you will have a better masterpiece than even that of Michelangelo’s King David.