The Famous Stone

By Sister Doreen, SSJD

 “Teach me, my God and King, in all things thee to see, and what I do in anything to do it as for thee

All may of Thee partake; nothing can be so mean, which with this tincture, “For Thy Sake,” will not grow bright and clean.

A servant with this clause makes drudgery divine:

Who sweeps a room as for Thy laws, makes that and the action fine.

This is the famous stone that turneth all to gold;

For that which God doth touch and own cannot for less be told.”

In the poem, the “famous stone” is a metaphor for doing everyday tasks for God’s sake. Just as the mythical philosopher’s stone that he talks about turns base metals into gold, so when we look at mundane work as an act of devotion, it transforms ordinary labor into something holy and divine.

So, Herbert’s allegorical message to believers is this: Even when we are involved in what we consider unimportant, inferior, or lowly work we can realize that we’re serving God and offering up our work and life as something that is important and delightful and pleasing / praising God. Choosing the tincture (solution) of this realization — we are doing it “for Thy sake” — our “drudgery” is transfigured or changed into something holy and important to God, to ourselves, to everyone around us and to our world! Behold! ‘ a better than alchemy and the philosopher’s stone’ is this Famous Stone! This conscious, consecrated offering up of all our seemingly insignificant labors to God “is the famous stone that can turn everything to gold,” and “God does touch and own” such endeavors, and is glorified by them. Everything that we do and touch when we do it for God turns to gold!

George Herberts poem is really a poetic version of St Paul’s thought-provoking message:

“What ever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father … Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for others knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.

Colossians 3:17,23-23 or in the Message translation “Let every detail in your lives – words, actions, whatever – be done in the name of the God, thanking God every step of the way … Do your best. Work from the heart for God, confident that you’ll get paid in full when you come into your inheritance. Keep in mind always that the ultimate Master you’re serving is God.”

This is the Famous Stone on which we are called to build our life, our communities, our world, the cosmos! It calls us to consider what sainthood is all about as we come to the end of October and celebrate All Saints Day. As Pope Francis said: “To be a saint is not a privilege of a few … all of us in baptism have the inheritance of being able to become saints. Sanctity is a vocation for everyone.”

The Carmelite Brother Lawrence is known most for his simple and yet arduous understanding of the practice of the presence of God. Brother Lawrence’s practice of the presence of God is the Famous Stone on which we are called to build our life. The path Brother Lawrence points out to us is simple and difficult at the same time. Simple, because it requires nothing other than constantly calling God to mind, with small, continual acts of praise and prayer, mindfulness of God’s presence, in every action and in every thought. The Famous Stone is where our longing, our possibilities, our home in God alone.  Difficult, because it demands a journey of wisdom and maturity, of discipline, of surrender and conversion of the most intimate part of us—of our mind and our thoughts even more than of our actions.

We are reminded on every side to not forget to make daily use of that “tincture” of consecration! This famous stone – The Elixir – “whatever you do, do for God” – this is the way of the saints, this is the way of our inheritance!

“Holy One, your wide heart of exquisite acceptance holds a special fondness for the saints. You gather them into your assembly whether they are grumpy or glad. You hold them close to your merciful love in spite of any history of wrongdoing. You welcome them in their conversions and assist them in their ways of service. We are your little saints in the making in whom you also take great delight.” (Joyce Rupp in ‘Fragments of Your Ancient Name’).

There are Saints that we celebrate who have gone before us and there are saints here around us and we all have the possibility of being able to become saints. We need to remember that in the New Testament, “saints” means not canonized saints (a much later development), but rather all the people of God. Paul began one of his letters, “To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi” (Phil. 1:1).

“Each great spiritual tradition, all faith traditions, in its own way, suggests a model of what it means to be a holy person.” (Joan Chittister). The communion of saints encompasses all those of truth and love, committed to a holiness of life whatever their faith connection or no faith connection. Everyone is held in the hands of God, precious in God’s sight, and those on a journey of faith from whatever faith tradition, all have a vocation for holiness. All open to holiness of life receive the Famous Stone as gift.

When pondering Pope Francis’ comment, Joan’s comment, my reflection and our Baptism in the light of this Famous Stone, I thought about our call to be both healers – people who live out of prayer, forgiveness and mercy, compassion, guidance, concern for suffering, love and comfort – and – prophets – people who have courage to proclaim the truth, stand up for justice, respect, truth, reconciliation, and care for the environment. These are the parts of the baptismal covenant – the inheritance we have of becoming saints. It is our commitment to holiness and wholeness of life built on the Famous Stone – that turns everything to gold. And it is together that we turn life into gold. It is exactly in the communion of saints, those before us, those of us right here now, and those yet to come, that we find strength for the journey, hope in the face of despair, and holiness in overcoming all that needs to be transformed and made whole. To that Famous Stone we cling!

Two hymns mixed together form a meditation for this reflection:

Common Praise, Anglican Church of Canada Hymn #282 and #401:

#282
Let saints on earth in concert sing with those whose work is done,
for all the servants of our King in earth and heaven are one.
One family, we live in him, one church, above, beneath,
though now divided by the stream, the narrow stream of death.
One army of the living God, to his command we bow:
part of the host has crossed the flood, and part is crossing now.
But all unite in God their head, and love to sing his praise;
Lord of the living and the dead, direct our earthly ways!
So, we shall join our friends above who have obtained the prize;
And on the eagle wings of love to joys celestial rise.

#401
My life flows on in endless song, above earth’s lamentation.
I hear the real, though far-off hymn that hails a new creation.
No storm can shake my inmost calm while to that Rock I’m clinging.
Since love is Lord of heaven and earth, how can I keep from singing?
Through all the tumult and the strife, I hear that music ringing.
It sounds and echoes in my soul, how can I keep from singing?
No storm can shake my inmost calm while to that Rock I’m clinging.
Since love is Lord of heaven and earth, how can I keep from singing?
What though the tempest ‘round me roar, I hear the truth it liveth
What though the darkness ‘round me close, songs in the night it giveth
No storm can shake my inmost calm while to that Rock I’m clinging.
Since love is Lord of heaven and earth, how can I keep from singing?
When tyrants tremble, sick with fear, and hear their death knells ringing;
When friends rejoice both far and near, how can I keep from singing?
No storm can shake my inmost calm while to that Rock I’m clinging.
Since love is Lord of heaven and earth, how can I keep from singing?
The peace of Christ makes fresh my heart, a fountain ever springing!
All things are mine since I am his! How can I keep from singing?
No storm can shake my inmost calm while to that Rock I’m clinging.
Since love is Lord of heaven and earth, how can I keep from singing?

Yes! Yes! “Arise shine for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.” Isaiah 60:1.