Frederick, Maryland, United States - Daily Mass Reading & Catholic Meditation “The Word among Us” for Wednesday, 30 July 2014Meditations: Matthew 13:44 “God’s kingdom is like a treasure hidden in a field for years and then accidentally found by a trespasser. The finder is ecstatic—what a find!—and proceeds to sell everything he owns to raise money and buy that field.
45-46 “Or, God’s kingdom is like a jewel merchant on the hunt for excellent pearls. Finding one that is flawless, he immediately sells everything and buys it.
Saint Peter Chrysologus, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure. (Matthew 13:44)
There’s one thing about the treasure seekers and merchants in today’s Gospel: they recognized a good thing when they saw it. They grasped the value of the treasure before them, and they did everything possible to lay hold of it. This parable wouldn’t make any sense if the seekers didn’t understand what they had found. They would have passed it over without another thought. But how could they do that? They had found a great treasure, an incomparable pearl! Of course they would sell everything so that they could acquire it.
God’s life in you is that treasure. And he wants to show you just how valuable it is. He wants you to understand it with such depth and clarity that you won’t hesitate to throw aside anything that keeps you from experiencing its fullness. So keep your eyes open for the glimpses he will give you of the different ways he is at work in your life. The more you see, the more you will want to embrace his work by cooperating with him more fully.
You can probably think of a time when you felt led to speak to someone, and in retrospect you felt sure that the Holy Spirit had used you to comfort or encourage them in a specific way. Wasn’t that an awesome feeling? It probably made you more alert to other opportunities, didn’t it? Or think about a really good confession, a time when you had a deep encounter with God’s mercy and experienced a real sense of renewal and hope. It probably helped make you more comfortable with the sacrament. Or when you saw the healing that came from your attempt to reconcile with someone after an argument—didn’t that make it worth letting go of a grudge or resentment?
Let God surprise you by showing you how much he’s doing in your life! Let him convince you of the power of his transforming love. Let him inspire you to do all you can to welcome him into every area of your life.
“Father, you are worth more than anything else in my life. Open my eyes to the treasure of your work in me so that I can cast off anything of lesser value!” Amen!
Jeremiah 15: Giving Everything Away for Nothing
10-11 Unlucky mother—that you had me as a son,
given the unhappy job of indicting the whole country!
I’ve never hurt or harmed a soul,
and yet everyone is out to get me.
But, God knows, I’ve done everything I could to help them,
prayed for them and against their enemies.
I’ve always been on their side, trying to stave off disaster.
God knows how I’ve tried!
15-18 You know where I am, God! Remember what I’m doing here!
Take my side against my detractors.
Don’t stand back while they ruin me.
Just look at the abuse I’m taking!
When your words showed up, I ate them—
swallowed them whole. What a feast!
What delight I took in being yours,
O God, God-of-the-Angel-Armies!
I never joined the party crowd
in their laughter and their fun.
Led by you, I went off by myself.
You’d filled me with indignation. Their sin had me seething.
But why, why this chronic pain,
this ever worsening wound and no healing in sight?
You’re nothing, God, but a mirage,
a lovely oasis in the distance—and then nothing!
19-21 This is how God answered me:
“Take back those words, and I’ll take you back.
Then you’ll stand tall before me.
Use words truly and well. Don’t stoop to cheap whining.
Then, but only then, you’ll speak for me.
Let your words change them.
Don’t change your words to suit them.
I’ll turn you into a steel wall,
a thick steel wall, impregnable.
They’ll attack you but won’t put a dent in you
because I’m at your side, defending and delivering.”
God’s Decree.
“I’ll deliver you from the grip of the wicked.
I’ll get you out of the clutch of the ruthless.”
Psalm 59: A David Psalm, When Saul Set a Watch on David’s House in Order to Kill Him
1-2 My God! Rescue me from my enemies,
defend me from these mutineers.
Rescue me from their dirty tricks,
save me from their hit men.
3-4 Desperadoes have ganged up on me,
they’re hiding in ambush for me.
I did nothing to deserve this, God,
crossed no one, wronged no one.
All the same, they’re after me,
determined to get me.
4-5 Wake up and see for yourself! You’re God,
God-of-Angel-Armies, Israel’s God!
Get on the job and take care of these pagans,
don’t be soft on these hard cases.
8-10 But you, God, break out laughing;
you treat the godless nations like jokes.
Strong God, I’m watching you do it,
I can always count on you.
God in dependable love shows up on time,
shows me my enemies in ruin.
11-13 Don’t make quick work of them, God,
lest my people forget.
Bring them down in slow motion,
take them apart piece by piece.
Let all their mean-mouthed arrogance
catch up with them,
Catch them out and bring them down
—every muttered curse
—every barefaced lie.
Finish them off in fine style!
Finish them off for good!
Then all the world will see
that God rules well in Jacob,
everywhere that God’s in charge.
16-17 And me? I’m singing your prowess,
shouting at cockcrow your largesse,
For you’ve been a safe place for me,
a good place to hide.
Strong God, I’m watching you do it,
I can always count on you—
God, my dependable love.
18 My strength, your praise I will sing;
you, God, are my fortress, my loving God.
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