Sunday 26th July 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time
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 value, 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 the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.’
The Gospel of the Lord
The Mass intention is for Sheila Sweeney RIP
Reflection:
In today’s Gospel there is only one treasure that brings true happiness and that treasure is Jesus! These two parables set before us in Matthew’s gospel, in which Jesus describes the physical treasure that two different men valued so much that they sold all they had to gain it. Jesus, uses that illustration to teach the spiritual truth that there is nothing on earth as valuable as entering into His kingdom.
What would I save from my house if it was on fire?
In the light of eternity all those physical possessions do not really matter, for it is the condition of my soul that is ultimately important.
- Have I found the pearl of great value, for which I am ready to sell all I have to buy it?
- The parable is not inviting you to think about somebody else – some random trespasser. Jesus is inviting you to recognise where your heart is?ewe
Fr John