Trong hai dụ ngộn gắn gọn, Chúa Giêsu dậy cho mọi người biết rằng vương quốc trên Trời là gì: Nước của Thiên Chúa thì giống như một người đi tìm thấy một kho tàng ẩn giấu trong ngoài đồng, khi đã tìm thấy được thì ông ta bán tất cả những gì ông có để mua cho được cánh đồng đó, và Nước Trời cũng giống như một nhà buôn truy lùng loại ngọc trai quý, khi ông ta tìm được rồi thì anh ta bán tất cả những gì anh ta có để mua cho được viên ngọc trai quý đó.
Nước Trời của Thiên Chúa còn rất quý giá hơn những kho tang hay ngọc trai quý giá, vì thế chúng ta nên sẵn lòng bán tất cả những gì chúng ta có để chúng ta có thể đến được Nước Trời của Thiên Chúa.
Những điều khác nhau có thể làm cản trở việc chúng ta theo đuổi Nước Trời: đó là những giới hạn và điểm yếu của con người, sự thiếu kiên trì và đức tin của chúng ta, vì chúng ta chỉ biết tập trung vào những thứ của thế gian này thay vì những thứ tồn tại ở bên ngoài cái thế giới mà chúng ta đang sống đây với những sự bí hiểm của cái ma quỷ đang vây bủa chung quianh chúng ta. Chúng ta cần có một mối quan hệ cá nhân với Chúa Giêsu cho dù bất kể những trở ngại nào đó có thể xảy ra như Chúa Giêsu đã nói với chúng ta về Nước Trời của Thiên Chúa và chính Ngài là người sẽ dẫn đường cho chúng ta vào tận hưởng trong Nước Trời của Thiên Chúa.
Xin Chúa giúp dẫn đường, chỉ lối cho chúng ta để chúng ta không bao giờ phải lạc lối trong việc theo đuổi Thiên Chúa Trời và Nước thiên đàng.
REFLECTION WEDNESDAY, 17TH Week in Ordinary Time
In two brief parables Jesus tries to tell people what the kingdom of heaven is about: like one who finds a hidden treasure in the field and sells all he owns to be able to purchase the field and like a trader who finds a truly exceptional pearl and sells all he owns to purchase the pearl.
The kingdom of heaven is so valuable we should be willing to sell all we own to get to the kingdom of heaven.
Various things may hinder our pursuit of the kingdom of heaven: our own human limitations and weaknesses, our lack of faith, our focus on things of this earth rather on things which persist beyond this earth and the guiles of the evil one. Whatever the hindrances may be, we do need a personal relationship with Jesus who has told us about the kingdom of heaven and who has led the way for us to enjoy the kingdom of heaven.
May we never go astray in our pursuit of God and the kingdom of heaven.
Wednesday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time
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.” Matthew 13:44
Today’s Gospel presents us with two very short and similar parables. In the first, quoted above, the Kingdom of Heaven is likened to a “treasure.” In the second parable, the Kingdom of Heaven is likened to a “pearl of great price.” Though these parables are very similar to each other, there are also subtle differences worth pondering. It appears that the treasure mentioned in the first parable is discovered almost by accident. The person simply “finds” it. This is in contrast to the second parable, in that the merchant who finds the pearl of great price did so after “searching” for it.
We often encounter the Treasure of the Gospel without even looking for it. We do so any time God intervenes in our lives without us seeking His intervention. For example, if someone were to offer an act of charity to you without you seeking it out, this is God giving you a treasure of His Kingdom. Or if someone shares with you their faith, or an inspiration they received, this is indeed a treasure given to you by God. The problem is that many times when we are given these treasures of the Gospel, we do not always see them as treasures. Imagine, for example, if the person in this parable were to stumble upon the treasure in the field and fail to open it out of indifference. They see it from a distance, have a bit of curiosity about what is in the box, but they are not energetic enough to actually open the box and look inside. In that case, the person would have no reason to go and sell all that they have so as to buy the field in which the treasure is found.
One clear message that this first parable reveals is that we must be attentive to the countless treasures of God’s graces given to us each and every day. God is so prolific in offering us grace, that we truly do stumble upon His grace all the time. Thus, having eyes to perceive His actions and ears to Hear His Voice is essential.
A second message clearly given in both of these parables is that once we discover the graces God gives us every day, we must foster within ourselves a desire for those graces that is so strong that we are willing to do anything necessary to obtain them. The discovery is made through the gift of faith, but the discovery by faith must then be followed with a zeal that drives our will to conform to that discovery.
Reflect, today, upon two things. First, have you discovered the treasures God has given to you? If you hesitate in answering this, then it’s most likely the case that there is much you have yet to discover. Secondly, as you do discover the riches that come with the gift of faith, then have you allowed that which God has spoken to you to consume you to such a point that you are willing to sell all you have, meaning, do whatever it takes to further accept all God wants to bestow? Resolutely determine to go forth on this holy search and you will find that the riches of grace that you obtain are of infinite value.
My Lord of all riches, You bestow upon me and upon all Your children countless graces every day. The treasures of Your mercy are of infinite value. Please open my eyes so that I can see and my ears so that I can hear so as to discover all that You wish to bestow. May You and the riches of Your Kingdom become the one and only, all-consuming focus of my life. Jesus, I trust in You.
Wednesday 17th Ordinary Time 2024
Opening Prayer: Lord God, you sent your Son to seek out the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the fine pearl. I am all three of these. I am the lost sheep who sometimes wanders from the fold. I am the coin lost within your house. I am a pearl of great price who has been found and redeemed by your Son.
Encountering the Word of God
1. Hidden Treasure and Fine Pearls: In his parables in Matthew 13, Jesus compares the Kingdom of Heaven to seven different things and twice explains the comparisons to his disciples. He explains that the seed can represent either the word of the kingdom sown in people’s hearts or the children of the kingdom. A mustard seed becoming a great shrub represents the supernatural growth of the kingdom throughout history. Leaven in the dough emphasizes how the kingdom will transform society. Today, Jesus uses two more comparisons. First, the Kingdom of Heaven is compared by Jesus to a treasure hidden in a field. Now, most of Jesus’ parables have a twist in them. In the Parable of the Sower, the sower seems to be careless and yet his work yields an abundant yield. The twist in the Parable of the Hidden Treasure is that the man finds the treasure and leaves it in the field, sells everything he has, and buys the field, instead of just taking the hidden treasure out of the field. This alludes to the fact that we cannot be attached to the things of this passing world and to the kingdom of heaven at the same time. Possessing the kingdom in this world is worth more than possessing earthly wealth. In the second parable, the Kingdom of Heaven is compared to a merchant in search of fine pearls. Notice, in contrast to the previous parable, that the kingdom is identified with the merchant who seeks and not the fine pearl. The parable, then, can be interpreted in the following way: Christ is the merchant who is searching for us, who are likened to fine pearls. Jesus gives up everything – he gives his entire life – to purchase our redemption. Through his sorrowful passion, Jesus redeems us, his brothers and sisters, from sin and death and brings us into the freedom of the New Covenant. Do I see Jesus searching for me as a fine pearl and giving up everything for my sake? Am I grateful for this?
2. Jeremiah: The First Reading is taken from the second of Jeremiah’s four confessions to the Lord (see 11:18-12:6; 15:10-21; 17:17-18; 18:19-23). “The prayer begins with lament and complaint about his trials (15:10-11), continues with a plea for vindication (15:15), and ends with divine words of reassurance (15:20-21)” (Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: Jeremiah, Lamentations, Baruch, 44). Jeremiah begins his confession with a cry of woe and anguish. When a prophet pronounces “woe” this is a warning that God’s judgment is about to fall on sinful cities or nations. By pronouncing “woe,” the prophet denounces evildoing and makes an appeal for repentance. He is telling the people that they are on the foolish path that leads to the curse of death and not on the wise path that leads to the blessing of life. Here, Jeremiah wrestles with discouragement as he faces opposition, isolation, and the rejection of his message. Jeremiah remembers his prophetic calling, the day when God put divine words into his mouth (Jeremiah 1:9). The First Reading ends with Jeremiah seemingly wanting to abandon his mission but also with him being recommissioned as God’s prophet to Jerusalem and Judah. Have I given in to the temptation to despair as I carry out my mission in life? How can I be restored to hope?
3. The Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius of Loyola: St. Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556) is well known for his Spiritual Exercises (published in 1548). The Exercises are an invitation to meditate on and discern what is most important in life. The Exercises help us see created things as relative and not absolute. They are means and not ends in themselves. They should be used in the measure they help us in our relationships with God and others. Ignatius invites us to contemplate life as a battle. We are asked: Who’s side are you on? Are you rallying under the standard of the devil? Or will you rally under the standard of Christ? As we contemplate the life, passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus, we are encouraged to conform our lives to that of our king, Jesus Christ. Right now, in this moment, which side am I on? What kind of spiritual battles am I engaged in?
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, thank you for finding me and selling everything to redeem me. I will strive to choose you every day of my life. I know you are a good shepherd and a good general and that your strategy will win the ultimate battle of life. Empower me with your Spirit to fight the good fight and finish the race!
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