"When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it." (Mt 13:46)
READING OF THE DAY
A reading from the Book of Jeremiah
Jer 14:17-22
Let my eyes stream with tears
day and night, without rest,
Over the great destruction which overwhelms
the virgin daughter of my people,
over her incurable wound.
If I walk out into the field,
look! those slain by the sword;
If I enter the city,
look! those consumed by hunger.
Even the prophet and the priest
forage in a land they know not.
Have you cast Judah off completely?
Is Zion loathsome to you?
Why have you struck us a blow
that cannot be healed?
We wait for peace, to no avail;
for a time of healing, but terror comes instead.
We recognize, O LORD, our wickedness,
the guilt of our fathers;
that we have sinned against you.
For your name's sake spurn us not,
disgrace not the throne of your glory;
remember your covenant with us, and break it not.
Among the nations' idols is there any that gives rain?
Or can the mere heavens send showers?
Is it not you alone, O LORD,
our God, to whom we look?
You alone have done all these things.
GOSPEL OF THE DAY
From the Gospel according to Matthew
Mt 13:36-43
Jesus dismissed the crowds and went into the house.
His disciples approached him and said,
"Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field."
He said in reply, "He who sows good seed is the Son of Man,
the field is the world, the good seed the children of the Kingdom.
The weeds are the children of the Evil One,
and the enemy who sows them is the Devil.
The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.
Just as 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 who cause others to sin and all evildoers.
They will throw them into the fiery furnace,
where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.
Then the righteous will shine like the sun
in the Kingdom of their Father.
Whoever has ears ought to hear."
WEDNESDAY OF THE SEVENTEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
Mt 13:44-46
THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE
Dear People of God,
In today's Gospel, Jesus teaches His disciples the two parables: The Kingdom of Heaven is like the story of treasure hidden in a field, and the Kingdom of Heaven is like the story of a merchant looking for a precious pearl.
The Kingdom of Heaven is a place of eternal happiness, the most noble place, and the final destination that people always long to reach. The Kingdom of Heaven is where God the Father of Love is present. It is the happiest place where God the Father always waits for humanity to return to Him when humans end their earthly lives.
Today's Gospel tells us that Jesus is God. He came to earth to teach people about the Kingdom of Heaven. He uses real images in daily life to compare the Kingdom of Heaven. He compared the Kingdom of Heaven to the most precious treasure and pearl that everyone wants to seek and possess for themselves. He advises everyone to look for the Kingdom of Heaven and not seek the fleeting things of the world. Only in the Kingdom of Heaven can people find happiness and peace, and have eternal life. We should sell all of our worldly possessions to buy the greatest treasure, which is the Kingdom of Heaven, where God is. This is because having God is having everything, and having the Kingdom of Heaven is having life.
It is His calling for everyone to set out in search of the treasure and the precious pearl. Give everything up, even your own life, to gain the Kingdom of Heaven, because only there can people find eternal happiness with God the Father.
Thanks be to God. Amen.
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