The Greatest Treasure

    

Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

30 July 2023

 

First Reading: 1 Kgs 3:5, 7-12

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 119:57, 72, 76-77, 127-128, 129-30

Second Reading: Rom 8:28-30

Gospel: Mt 13:44-52

 

Reflection

By: Theresa B. Manio

 

Lord, I love your commands.

What treasures do you have right now? What is the most important treasure among them? Is it money, power, fame, or a loving relationship? Personally, I think there is nothing wrong in pursuing those things because just like any other treasure you can use it to improve your life and the life of the people around you. However, too much struggle to obtain these things on a timeline we set for ourselves, would often lead to disappointments, in worse cases, later we realized that we have been pursuing the wrong goals. Then, we go back to the starting point, what is the most important treasure that I should be seeking?

The thrill of the search gives us a purpose, providing us a reason to wake up the next morning knowing that we have something to look for, although, on a certain level, it gets tiring later on. What is the most important treasure that I should be seeking? Perhaps, for the grad-waiting youth today, who will venture out, leave their comfort zones, their excitement is also filled with existential questions. What will happen to me after this? Is a life focused on avoiding pain a worthwhile life? What lies after all this search?

In the Gospel today, the three kingdom parables were discussed, namely, the hidden treasure, the pearl of great price, and the fishing net. They all speak of what truly matters in this life, the Kingdom of God, our relationship with the Creator. Thus, we should prioritize this and the rest falls secondary. That we are willing to let go of all that we have and rest our mind into just doing His commands. For if we trust God, we believe that all graces and provisions are for our best interests.

Then Jesus asks, "Do you understand all these things?". If we say "yes" then it is time for us to alter our goals and priorities. The thrill of the chase is in finding out, what more can I do to be a good servant? The Gospel reminds us to spend time in prayer, for in there, we can communicate with God. Instead of spending more money buying expensive items and going to luxurious meals, why not look in the next neighbor who cannot afford even one decent meal? Having more doesn't equate to acquiring more but rather into giving more. Try it, happiness and contentment feels different that way. God alone can give us the peace that the world cannot give (John 14:27). There is always great joy in seeking and finding God.

Prayer

Saint Ignatius' Prayer for Generosity

Dearest Lord,

Teach me to be generous

Teach me to serve You as I should

To give and not to count the cost

To fight and not to heed the wounds

To toil and not to seek for rest

To labor and ask not for reward

Save that of knowing that I do Your Most Holy Will.

Amen.

The Treasure We Seek

Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time 26 July 2020
First reading 1 Kings 3:5, 7-12

At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, “Ask what I should give you.” And Solomon said, “You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant my father David, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you; and you have kept for him this great and steadfast love, and have given him a son to sit on his throne today. And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David, although I am only a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. And your servant is in the midst of the people whom you have chosen, a great people, so numerous they cannot be numbered or counted. Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil; for who can govern this your great people?” It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches, or for the life f your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, I now do according to your word. Indeed I give you a wise and discerning mind; no one like you has been before you and no one like you shall arise after you.

Second reading                                                          Romans 8:28-30

We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he might be the firstborn within a large family. And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified.

Gospel                                                                         Matthew 13:44-52

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; on finding one pearl of great price, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind; when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but threw out the bad. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. “Have you understood all this?” They answered, “Yes.” And he said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old".

Reflection

By Jose Paulo Gonzales

In today’s Gospel, we are given more parables to describe the Kingdom of Heaven.

In the Parables of the Treasure in the Field and the Pearl of Great Price, we see the true value of the Kingdom of Heaven; so great it is a price that once we find it, we would relinquish all else to keep it.

The Kingdom of Heaven is of such great value that the riches of this world would not match it—all with its eternal glory. But as valuable it is a treasure, there is a great challenge to complete: we must yearn; we must pursue to find it. Truth be told – there is a likelihood that one may stumble upon treasure by pure chance, but he sure increases the probability by seeking treasure every day! And this is where it is great to read between the lines—the lessons given by the parables. There is far too great a harvest, but only few willing to labor (Matthew 9:37), so we must not tire out in doing good, for our harvest will come if we do not give up (Galatians 6:9).  

The Parable of the Net closely resembles the Parable of the Wheat in last Sunday’s Gospel; it presents us with a dichotomy of personalities: one group whose goodness can be likened to quality-catch fish, and the other, the evil, resembling the fish to be thrown out. The parable calls us to be like quality-catch fish: that with our good works, we would be good finds ourselves, just like the treasure in the field and the pearl of great price.

Parables about the Kingdom of Heaven sure do give us a wealth of analogies to better understand God’s Kingdom—His reign. They also give us great parameters to determine if we conform to the behaviors of one who can be likened to such treasures. It is my hope that we more closely, day by day become like the treasure we seek so earnestly to find! It is the Holy Spirit who can help us in this daily endeavor.   

Prayer

Abba, thank You for giving us a treasure worth giving up all else just to secure, a great pearl whose quality we should try to harness within ourselves, and good fish whose so being a good catch we should try to be, ourselves.

We could only wait with expectant hope about the glorious eternal life that is about to unfold. Thank You for giving us a great future to hope for. May You always be with us and patiently, unyieldingly help us as we yearn for it with good works.


May our good works and exaltation of You be perpetually pleasing to You as our humble sacrifices, in Jesus’ most holy Name, Amen.

The Culmination of Our Reaping

Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time 19 July 2020
First reading Wisdom 12:13, 16-19

For who will say, “What have you done?” or who will resist your judgment?
Who will accuse you for the destruction of nations that you made?
 Or who will come before you to plead as an advocate for the unrighteous?

For neither is there any god besides you, whose care is for all people, to whom you should prove that you have not judged unjustly; nor can any king or monarch confront you about those whom you have punished.

You are righteous and you rule all things righteously, deeming it alien to your power to condemn anyone who does not deserve to be punished.
For your strength is the source of righteousness, and your sovereignty over all causes you to spare all.
For you show your strength when people doubt the completeness of your power, and you rebuke any insolence among those who know it.
 Although you are sovereign in strength, you judge with mildness, and with great forbearance you govern us; for you have power to act whenever you choose.
Through such works you have taught your people that the righteous must be kind, and you have filled your children with good hope, because you give repentance for sins.

Second reading                                                          Romans 8:26-27

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

Gospel                                                                          Matthew 13:24-43

Jesus put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field; but while everybody was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and then went away. So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared as well. And the slaves of the householder came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did these weeds come from?’ He answered, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The slaves said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ But he replied, ‘No; for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them. Let both of them grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Collect the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.'”

He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.” He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.” Jesus told the crowds all these things in parables; without a parable he told them nothing. This was to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet: “I will open my mouth to speak in parables; I will proclaim what has been hidden from the foundation of the world.” Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples approached him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.” He answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man; the field is the world, and the good seed are the children of the kingdom; the weeds ar the children of the evil one, and the enemy who sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. Just as the weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers, and they will throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Let anyone with ears listen!

Reflection

By Jose Paulo Gonzales

The Gospel for today gives us three parables that describe the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God has been laid out in different stories to characterize it faithfully, but in our Catechism classes, we learn that the Kingdom of God is the reign of God.

Parables pertaining to the Kingdom of God typically present us with ranges of behavior, some we should veer away from, but one we should emulate. 

In the first parable in today’s Gospel, the wheat can be likened to the good, and the weeds, the evil. 

In the second parable, the good have been likened to a mustard seed which, while at first is unnoticeable, can grow up to be the most magnificent of trees—being of such great function with its size and sturdiness. 

The third parable likens the good to the leaven in the bread, which, although sporadic and separately spread at first, can still permeate the whole and transform the bread, making it rise.

Today’s Gospel gives us insightful takes on how we could be as children of God. As wheat, we are planted in the world with the weed. We have read in the Bible how we should not conform to the pattern of the world (Romans 12:2), but to be in it to spread the Word (Mark 16:15), to be the salt that does not lose its taste (Matthew 5:13), and the light that shines good deeds to others for the Father’s glory (Matthew 5:14-16), not only ours. We could start as small as the mustard seed, or as sporadic as the leaven in the bread, but if we grow, develop some more, and pursue, we could still deliver what God has called us to do.


While we are planted with the weed and grow with the weed, we may suffer for a while in doing good, but we should not tire of doing good, for in the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up (Galatians 6:9). While we have small achievements and blessings from the Lord to celebrate here on earth, the culmination of our reaping is at the appointed time of harvest—the end of days. 

Prayer

Lord, thank You for giving us Your parables so we could understand Your Kingdom better. As the wheat, please help us become quality harvest. As the mustard seed, please help us so that even if we start small, we still achieve the good You called us to do.

Please help us in our daily walk in life so we become more and more like Jesus, the perfect example of faith and good works.

May we radiate You forever even with our humble works, in Jesus’ most holy Name, Amen.

Home

First Reading:  Exodus 32:7-11, 13-14

Yahweh then said to Moses, 'Go down at once, for your people whom you brought here from Egypt have become corrupt. They have quickly left the way which I ordered them to follow. They have cast themselves a metal calf, worshipped it and offered sacrifice to it, shouting, "Israel, here is your God who brought you here from Egypt!" '

Yahweh then said to Moses, 'I know these people; I know how obstinate they are! So leave me now, so that my anger can blaze at them and I can put an end to them! I shall make a great nation out of you instead.' Moses tried to pacify Yahweh his God. 'Yahweh,' he said, 'why should your anger blaze at your people, whom you have brought out of Egypt by your great power and mighty hand?

Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to whom you swore by your very self and made this promise: "I shall make your offspring as numerous as the stars of heaven, and this whole country of which I have spoken, I shall give to your descendants, and it will be their heritage forever." Yahweh then relented over the disaster which he had intended to inflict on his people.

Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 51:3-4, 12-13, 17, 19

Second Reading: 1Timothy 1:12-17

I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength. By calling me into his service he has judged me trustworthy, even though I used to be a blasphemer and a persecutor and contemptuous. Mercy, however, was shown me, because while I lacked faith I acted in ignorance; but the grace of our Lord filled me with faith and with the love that is in Christ Jesus.

Here is a saying that you can rely on and nobody should doubt: that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. I myself am the greatest of them; and if mercy has been shown to me, it is because Jesus Christ meant to make me the leading example of his inexhaustible patience for all the other people who were later to trust in him for eternal life. To the eternal King, the undying, invisible and only God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Gospel:  Luke 15:1-32

The tax collectors and sinners, however, were all crowding round to listen to him, and the Pharisees and scribes complained saying, 'This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.' So he told them this parable: 'Which one of you with a hundred sheep, if he lost one, would fail to leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the missing one till he found it?

And when he found it, would he not joyfully take it on his shoulders and then, when he got home, call together his friends and neighbours, saying to them, "Rejoice with me, I have found my sheep that was lost." In the same way, I tell you, there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner repenting than over ninety-nine upright people who have no need of repentance.

'Or again, what woman with ten drachmas would not, if she lost one, light a lamp and sweep out the house and search thoroughly till she found it? And then, when she had found it, call together her friends and neighbours, saying to them, "Rejoice with me, I have found the drachma I lost." In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing among the angels of God over one repentant sinner.'

Then he said, 'There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, "Father, let me have the share of the estate that will come to me." So the father divided the property between them. A few days later, the younger son got together everything he had and left for a distant country where he squandered his money on a life of debauchery. 'When he had spent it all, that country experienced a severe famine, and now he began to feel the pinch; so he hired himself out to one of the local inhabitants who put him on his farm to feed the pigs.

And he would willingly have filled himself with the husks the pigs were eating but no one would let him have them. Then he came to his senses and said, "How many of my father's hired men have all the food they want and more, and here am I dying of hunger! I will leave this place and go to my father and say: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired men."

So he left the place and went back to his father. 'While he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with pity. He ran to the boy, clasped him in his arms and kissed him. Then his son said, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son." But the father said to his servants, "Quick! Bring out the best robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.

Bring the calf we have been fattening, and kill it; we will celebrate by having a feast, because this son of mine was dead and has come back to life; he was lost and is found." And they began to celebrate. 'Now the elder son was out in the fields, and on his way back, as he drew near the house, he could hear music and dancing.  Calling one of the servants he asked what it was all about.

The servant told him, "Your brother has come, and your father has killed the calf we had been fattening because he has got him back safe and sound." He was angry then and refused to go in, and his father came out and began to urge him to come in; but he retorted to his father, "All these years I have slaved for you and never once disobeyed any orders of yours, yet you never offered me so much as a kid for me to celebrate with my friends.

But, for this son of yours, when he comes back after swallowing up your property -- he and his loose women -- you kill the calf we had been fattening.  'The father said, "My son, you are with me always and all I have is yours. But it was only right we should celebrate and rejoice, because your brother here was dead and has come to life; he was lost and is found." '

Reflection:
by Theresa Ballo

We all have our great stories of being lost, whether when we were a child, a struggling teenager or just a lost adult. We were all confused on which path to take, made mistakes and hurt people. Thus, we take delight in being found, in finding our way home.

Do you sometimes doubt the infinite love and mercy of God? Do you at times feel ashamed of presenting yourself to the Lord? Was there ever a time you felt you are not anymore worthy of the love of God? Just because you have offended God for so many times already, running away from Him seems the easiest thing to do.

The crises in my life always come late with my age. After college, I had the so-called. “teenager blues” or identity crises. I tried doing the YOLO (You Only Live Once) lifestyle, doing things that would give instant pleasure. My adventurous personality went beyond its limit. No fear, as the Nike ad would say, until my body got tired. I was wearing a beautiful mask, trying to present a responsible daughter and an energetic youth in the service of the Parish yet when the limelight was off; there I was staying on a dark pit. I was exactly like the prodigal son. Yet, instead of coming home, I literally ran away from home because of shame and guilt. My three years away from home, living with just the basics and dealing with strangers became my purification state. It was hard. I became so vulnerable to God’s loving mercy.

God’s love is always there for you. No matter who you are and no matter how grave the sins that you have committed, God’s love never ceases. It does not go empty. As a matter of fact God is always seeking you and ever ready to embrace you with his unconditional love once again. The Gospel this Sunday, tells three stories of God’s love and mercy. God never stops searching for the lost. He gives pardon without any condition. God’s love is always seeking and forgiving. Embrace therefore this love and win the battle of turning away from sins. Learn from our mistakes, move on and live with compassion and mercy for others, for we know how it is to suffer in the first place.

More so, let us strive not to become the Pharisees who only rejoice in the righteousness of oneself. As a Church, may we be like Jesus who welcomes the sinners. If we truly understand the grace of God, we will welcome sinners as those, like us, who are undeserving of God’s favor, and rejoice when they experience grace as we have.

Let us all be reminded that Jesus, whom we adore and worship, is a God of mercy, a God of forgiveness and a God of infinite love.

Prayer
Father God,

Teach us to be like you in accepting sinners, like us. May we show compassion to others who think and act differently from us. Give us a forgiving heart so we free ourselves from hatred. May we become instruments of your peace and love. Amen.

Why do you have to be so cryptic,Jesus?

17th Sunday in Ordinary Time July 27

First reading 1 Kings 3:5,7-12
The Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream and said, ‘Ask what you would like me to give you.’ Solomon replied, ‘O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in succession to David my father. But I am a very young man, unskilled in leadership. Your servant finds himself in the midst of this people of yours that you have chosen, a people so many its number cannot be counted or reckoned. Give your servant a heart to understand how to discern between good and evil, for who could govern this people of yours that is so great?’ It pleased the Lord that Solomon should have asked for this. ‘Since you have asked for this’ the Lord said ‘and not asked for long life for yourself or riches or the lives of your enemies, but have asked for a discerning judgement for yourself, here and now I do what you ask. I give you a heart wise and shrewd as none before you has had and none will have after you.’

Psalm                                                                          Psalm 118:57,72,76-77,127-130

Second reading                                                      Romans 8:28-30

We know that by turning everything to their good, God co-operates with all those who love him,
with all those he has called according to his purpose. They are the ones he chose specially long
ago and intended to become true images of his Son, so that his Son might be the eldest of
many brothers. He called those he intended for this; those he called he justified, and with those
he justified he shared his glory.

Gospel                                                                     Matthew 13:44-52

Jesus said to the crowds, ‘The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field which someone has found; he hides it again, goes off happy, sells everything he owns and buys the field.

  ‘Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls; when he finds one of great value he goes and sells everything he owns and buys it.

  ‘Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet cast into the sea that brings in a haul of all kinds. When it is full, the fishermen haul it ashore; then, sitting down, they collect the good ones in a basket and throw away those that are no use. This is how it will be at the end of time: the angels will appear and separate the wicked from the just to throw them into the blazing furnace where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.

  ‘Have you understood all this?’ They said, ‘Yes.’ And he said to them, ‘Well then, every scribe who becomes a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out from his storeroom things both new and old.’

Reflection by Fidji Rivera-Sarmiento

Back in Christian Living class, we were always tasked to memorize the symbols and what they represent among all parables. Last Sunday was about the wheat and the weed, the mustard seed, and the yeast used in bread. In today’s Gospel, Jesus used a buried treasure, a merchant searching for the pearl of great price, then a net cast into the sea. Expectedly, our Lord would end the parable with the selection of what is good, then burning the bad. Morose ending, eh?

Here’s the article from Felix Just, SJ about the parables in the Gospels. Boy, are these students of the internet generation very lucky to have this list! We had to find all of them in Bible manually!  But if you must ask, if I TRULY understood why our Lord had to actually talk in parables, the answer is a resounding…NO. (Sorry, my CL teachers.) Why so cryptic, my Lord? Even the Apostles had to ask Jesus why. Let’s read this eksena from Matthew 13:10–17.

10  And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?”

11  ¹Jesus answered them, “^aTo you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, 

but to them it has not been granted.

12  “^aFor whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; 

but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him.

13  “Therefore I speak to them in parables; because while ^aseeing they do not see, 

and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.

14  “¹In their case the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says,

‘^2aYou will keep on hearing, ³but will not understand;

⁴You will keep on seeing, but will not perceive;

15  ^aFor the heart of this people has become dull,

With their ears they scarcely hear,

And they have closed their eyes,

Otherwise they would see with their eyes,

Hear with their ears,

And understand with their heart and return,

And I would heal them.’

16  “^aBut blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear.

17  “For truly I say to you that ^amany prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, 

and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.

So, did this explanation clarify my queries? Still not. See, I am not the beating-around-the-bush kind of gal. I hit the target right away. I love a little mystery here and there, and maybe bits of suspense. But I am not a fan of cryptic messages. Not that I dislike deciphering them, but I find it time wasting. Paikot-ikot, bakit kailangan malabo, kung pwede namang malinaw? But our Lord Jesus greatly used parables to describe the kingdom of God. He must have a big purpose for that. Could it be so the non-believers will continue to follow Him, na mala-teleserye ang dating? Or did He want to coat the bitter truth with something digestible? Was He kind of simplifying how God operates by using simple and sometimes inanimate objects? Then towards the end, the Lord would only reveal the meaning to the Apostles, na parang private debriefing lamang. Oh, my theories and me!

But was it effective? Precisely, YES! Did He convey the messages with conviction? Yes! Did the parables affect a reader in many levels each time one reads it? Truly. Parables hit me differently when I was in grade school compared to how it moves me now that I have my own family. And besides, to those who honestly hunger for God’s Word, the parables become a memorable tool about the truths. At least for now, we perfectly understand how precious the kingdom of God is, and how Jesus want us to WANT it.

As my mother would quip, “Kung lahat naiintindihan mo, wala nang misteryo. Hindi na faith ang tawag ‘dun.”

Prayer

Dear Jesus,

I’m sorry for the many, many times I doubted. But You always found a way to refresh my faith. Thank You for Your Holy Spirit. Thank you for Your Words. Thank You that even if You are not physically walking around here telling parables, You instituted a Church to guide us in learning Your Words.Amen.