Memorial of Saint Catherine of Alexandria, Virgin and Martyr

 Lectionary: 504

...a stone which was hewn from a mountain
without a hand being put to it, struck its iron and tile feet, breaking them in pieces.
The iron, tile, bronze, silver, and gold all crumbled at once....
But the stone that struck the statue became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.

We should notice the stones and rocks that appear amid our scriptures and among our religious symbols. Many people proudly wear stones on their finger as symbols and signals of their religious commitment.
Why? Because a diamond is forever, and it means, "I am committed to one marriage and one spouse until death do us part." 

Abraham and his son Isaac built an altar of stone before they offered the most amazing and terrifying sacrifice, the Patriarch's only beloved son. Witnessing his fanatical devotion, the LORD promised, 

I will bless you and make your descendants as countless as the stars of the sky and the sands of the seashore; your descendants will take possession of the gates of their enemies,

and in your descendants all the nations of the earth will find blessing, because you obeyed my command. (Genesis 22: 17)

As the Hebrews arrived in the Promised Land, Joshua gathered the Twelve Tribes of Israel at Shechem and reminded them of all that the LORD had done for them. He swore that he and his household would remain forever faithful to the LORD and would observe the Law of Moses forever. The Tribes insisted they would do the same thing. Then, 

Joshua said to all the people, “This stone shall be our witness, for it has heard all the words which the LORD spoke to us. It shall be a witness against you, should you wish to deny your God.” (Joshua 24:27)

In the New Testament, there are several references to the stone rejected by the builders which became the cornerstone, found in Psalm 118:22. This link to the English Standard Version lists all of them. 

As living stones we have been built into a temple to worship God. Because rocks don't move of their own free will, loved ones, strangers, and enemies rely on us to remain where the Lord has placed us. 

There are many more allusions to stones and rocks -- the enormous stones of the temple, the stones which held Lazarus and Jesus captive but could not remain in place -- but I'll give one more: Augustus Montague Toplady's English hymn, Rock of Ages.

But the stone that struck the statue became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.