I played basketball and baseball in early grade school. I was never that great at either, but I learned a lot about what it means to be on a team and how to be a good teammate. My first lesson, however, simply moved me from standing alone to belonging. 

I clearly remember my first day of first grade: the new kid—having gone to kindergarten elsewhere. Feeling scared and alone, I kept swallowing the lump in my throat and holding back tears in my eyes. Lucky for me, a kind and funny kid noticed, took me by the hand, and convinced me I was going to be okay. We became good friends and often played on the same sports teams.

Playing on a team with other kids helped me realize I could be a part of something bigger than myself. This was a new kind of camaraderie, and I got to represent my school, Our Lady of Lourdes (Go Tigers!). It felt good to belong. We all had to do our part, and if we were going to win, we had to do it together.

In Scripture, the first letter of St. Peter reminds us that faith is never meant to be lived alone: “Like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house” (1 Pt 2:5). A single stone by itself cannot be a house. It has weight and substance, but it does not fulfill its purpose until it becomes part of something greater. In the same way, each of us has gifts, experiences, and a unique calling from God. Yet, our life finds its deepest meaning when joined to others in the life of the Church.

As “living stones” we must allow ourselves to be shaped. Stones used in a building must be cut, smoothed, and fitted so they can rest securely beside others. The Lord works in our lives in a similar way. Through joys and trials, through moments of growth and conversion, He gently shapes our hearts so that we can better support and strengthen those around us. God is not simply shaping individual believers; He is building a dwelling place for Himself.

How often do we take the time on Sunday—maybe after Mass—to look around and thank God for all the people who are worshipping with us? We are blessed to have each other, so we should take the time to see each other and recognize that we are all in this together.

If we are all part of a spiritual house, then Jesus Christ is the foundation—the cornerstone. Everything depends on Him. Without Him, the structure collapses; with Him, even imperfect stones can become part of something beautiful and enduring. When we remain close to Christ—through prayer, the sacraments, and acts of charity—we allow God to place us where we belong within His design.

If you are like me, you are attached to the church building you grew up in. But we know in our hearts that the Church is not merely a building of brick and mortar. It is a living temple made of people—each person called, chosen, and placed by God. When we offer our lives to Him, we become part of something far greater than ourselves: a spiritual house where God’s presence dwells in the world.

The people that God has put in our lives—the other living stones—are important, and we must not take them for granted. That kind and funny kid, Adam, who took me by the hand all those years ago, passed away recently at the age of 42. It broke my heart. We are, however, an “Easter people,” and not only are we connected to Catholics all over the world, but we are also connected to the ones who have gone before us. We are living stones building something we cannot see, yet we know it’s there all the same.