FIRST READING
Jeremiah 15:10, 16-21
Woe to me, mother, that you gave me birth! a man of strife and contention to all the land! I neither borrow nor lend, yet all curse me. When I found your words, I devoured them; they became my joy and the happiness of my heart, Because I bore your name, O LORD, God of hosts. I did not sit celebrating in the circle of merrymakers; Under the weight of your hand I sat alone because you filled me with indignation. Why is my pain continuous, my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? You have indeed become for me a treacherous brook, whose waters do not abide! Thus the LORD answered me: If you repent, so that I restore you, in my presence you shall stand; If you bring forth the precious without the vile, you shall be my mouthpiece. Then it shall be they who turn to you, and you shall not turn to them; And I will make you toward this people a solid wall of brass. Though they fight against you, they shall not prevail, For I am with deliver and rescue you, says the LORD. I will free you from the hand of the wicked, and rescue you from the grasp of the violent.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
Psalm 59:2-3, 4, 10-11, 17, 18
R. (17d) God is my refuge on the day of distress.
Rescue me from my enemies, O my God; from my adversaries defend me. Rescue me from evildoers; from bloodthirsty men save me.
R. God is my refuge on the day of distress.
For behold, they lie in wait for my life; mighty men come together against me, Not for any offense or sin of mine, O LORD.
R. God is my refuge on the day of distress.
O my strength! for you I watch; for you, O God, are my stronghold, As for my God, may his mercy go before me; may he show me the fall of my foes.
R. God is my refuge on the day of distress.
But I will sing of your strength and revel at dawn in your mercy; You have been my stronghold, my refuge in the day of distress.
R. God is my refuge on the day of distress.
O my strength! your praise will I sing; for you, O God, are my stronghold, my merciful God!
R. God is my refuge on the day of distress.
ALLELUIA
John 15:15b
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I call you my friends, says the Lord, for I have made known to you all that the Father has told me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GOSPEL
Matthew 13:44-46
Jesus said to his disciples:
“The Kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again, and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the Kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls. When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it.”
REFLECTIONS:
What do you most treasure and how do you keep it
secure? In a peasant community the best safe was often the earth. The man
in the parable "went in his joy" to sell everything. Why? Because he found
a treasure worth possessing above everything else he had. He did not, however,
have enough to buy the treasure. Fortunately, he only needed enough money
to buy the field. In a similar fashion, God offers his kingdom as incomparable
treasure at a price we can afford! We can't pay the full price for the
life which God gives us; but when we exchange our life for the life which
God offers, we receive a treasure beyond compare. The pearl of great price
also tells us a similar lesson. Pearls in the ancient world came to represent
the supremely valuable. Jesus remarked that one should not cast pearls
before swine (Matthew 7:6). Why would a merchant sell everything for a
peerless pearl? No doubt because he was attracted to what he thought was
the greatest treasure he could possess.
Discovering God's kingdom is like stumbling across hidden treasure or
finding the one pearl of great price. When we discover the kingdom of God
we receive the greatest possible treasure the Lord himself. Selling all
that we have to obtain this incomparable treasure could mean many things
our friends, job, our "style of life", what we do with our free time.
Treasure has a special connection to the heart, the place of desire and
longing, the place of will and focus. The thing we most set our heart on
is our highest treasure. In this parable what does the treasure of the
kingdom refer to? It certainly refers to the kingdom of God in all its
aspects. But in a special way, the Lord himself is the treasure we seek.
If the Almighty is your gold and your precious silver, then you will delight
yourself in the Almighty (Job 22:22-23). Is the Lord the treasure
and delight of your heart?
"Lord Jesus, reveal to me the true riches of your kingdom. Help me to
set my heart on you alone as the treasure beyond compare with any other.
Free my heart of any inordinate desires or attachment to other things that
I may freely give to you all that I have in joy and gratitude for all that
you have given to me. May I always find joy and delight in your presence."
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