Dedication of the Immaculate Conception Cathedral of Hong Kong

This is a feast local to Hong Kong. The Diocese celebrates the Dedication of the Cathedral today. Therefore, we have some readings on the building materials of a church: rocks. It is taken from the 1^st Epistle of Peter. In chapter 2 of the epistle, St. Peter outlines what Christian life should be like. We Christians should constantly ask ourselves if our life is happy, if our life is good and if we have tasted the kindness of the Lord (1 Peter 2:3). If our answers are affirmative, congratulations. Otherwise, our identity as a Christian is fake, our Christian life hollow.
Faith and religion are not something irrational. Let's put on a utilitarianist hat and do a cost-benefit analysis honestly. Why should we continue to follow Jesus if we gain no advantage over a life without Jesus? There must be some advantages, material or spiritual, that sustain our belief. Otherwise, why bother if believing in Jesus makes our life no better. Of course, after following Jesus, our values may change so that what we prized most in the past may become a loss for you now. St. Paul had this experience to share with the Philippians.
But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.
Indeed I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as refuse, in order that I may gain Christ (Philippians 3:7-8)
So, in our daily life, if we are able to experience the kindness of the Lord, our faith will be more animated. We can truly be living stones that build up God's Temple. Otherwise, we are only claiming a spiritual high ground but in fact, we are still spiritually immature. St. Peter gave some very practical advice for believers to lead a life such that we may experience the kindness of the Lord.
So put away all malice and all guile and insincerity and envy and all slander (1 Peter 2:1).
Come to him, to that living stone, rejected by men but in God's sight chosen and precious (1 Peter 2:4);
In sum, pray to the Lord, approach Him. Put away all malice, guile, insincerity, envy and slander.
By then, we become good quality spiritual stones to build up the church, to build up the Kingdom of God (1 Peter 2:5).
The story of Zacchaeus in Luke 19 is a good illustration of Peter's advice.
Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector and rich (Luke 19:2). He wanted to see Jesus but Jesus was surrounded by a large crowd and Zacchaeus himself was short. Therefore, he climbed up a sycamore tree in order to get a glimpse of Jesus (Luke 19:4). This was a perfect illustration of the desire of a sinner to see his Saviour. Jesus rewarded Zacchaeus with his staying in his house. Zacchaeus took action. He declared in front of Jesus that he would give half of his property to the poor. If he had cheated anyone, he would repay fourfold (Luke 19:8). Jesus defended Zacchaeus and declared his intention and background.
For the Son of man came to seek and to save the lost (Luke 19:10).
Then Peter quoted Isaiah and Psalm to explain the role Jesus played in this enterprise.
Ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ ἐμβαλῶ εἰς τὰ θεμέλια Σιων λίθον πολυτελῆ ἐκλεκτὸν ἀκρογωνιαῖον ἔντιμον εἰς τὰ θεμέλια αὐτῆς, καὶ ὁ πιστεύων ἐπ' αὐτῷ οὐ μὴ καταισχυνθῇ. (Is 28:16)
ἰδοὺ τίθημι ἐν Σιὼν λίθον ἀκρογωνιαῖον ἐκλεκτὸν ἔντιμον καὶ ὁ πιστεύων ἐπ' αὐτῷ οὐ μὴ καταισχυνθῇ. (1 Peter 2:6)
Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious,
and he who believes in him will not be put to shame (1 Peter 2:6, RSV)

λίθον, ὃν ἀπεδοκίμασαν οἱ οἰκοδομοῦντες, οὗτος ἐγενήθη εἰς κεφαλὴν γωνίας, (Ps 117:22 LXX; Ps 118:22 MT)
λίθος ὃν ἀπεδοκίμασαν οἱ οἰκοδομοῦντες, οὗτος ἐγενήθη εἰς κεφαλὴν γωνίας (1 Peter 2:7)
The very stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner,(1 Peter 2:7 RSV)
Christians believe that Jesus is the cornerstone rejected by the builders. But he was appointed by God, chosen and precious. We Christians are supposed to believe in him and will not be put to shame, if our identity is not fake. Peter drew on the traditional image of the Israelites and applied this image to the current entrepreneurs:
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, that you may declare the wonderful deeds of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
Once you were no people but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy but now you have received mercy (1 Peter 2:9-10). A chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people etc. were traditional images belonging to the Israelites. Now Peter applies these images to the new Israelites, the Church.

My dear Lord, I am privileged to be given the honour to receive Your Body and Blood. May this spiritual food arouse in us the good desire to seek You and to unite with You. Amen.