Pearl of Great Price

The WORD today reminds me that I should be ready to give up everything for God.

When I was in college, our chapel was named PGP chapel or Pearl of Great Price Chapel. initially I did not understand why it was named that way. Why a pearl? Why not Jesus, Mary, Joseph or one of the saints? Why is it valuable? Then when I came across the gospel, I understood why.

In the gospel, we saw that one would do anything to have the pearl of great price. One would sell everything to have the pearl of great price. Being valuable, having it comes with a great price. The price may be great and expensive, but it is reasonable and most importantly, attainable. That is why the people sold everything they had to be able to get hold of the treasure and the pearl. They found it worth their while that they were willing to let go of everything they had - all their possessions and their current treasures, to have the new found treasure.

This is what God wants from us, the readiness and willingness to give up anything and everything once we get to know Him. God wants us to let go of all the sins, of all the worldly attachments we are holding on to, so we can attain life with Him. so he can give us new life. God wants us to see him as worthy enough for us to give up everything we currently have just to have him.

How do I see God? Do I have faith in him? Do I trust him, at every situation I am in? Do I know and believe he is powerful and loving? What hinders me from giving everything to God?

May we find it in our heart to see God as that pearl of great price, and be willing to give up everything just for Him.

Father God,
Thank you for today. thank you for another day to live. Thank you for the reminder and challenge. Thank you for another day to feel your love. Lord, sorry for the times I don't give you the importance that you deserve. May I see you like the way the people in the gospel saw the treasures. May I recognize you. I pray that I would always seek you. May my heart always beat for you. may I always be ready and willing to give up everything worldly for you. and as I serve you, may I give you my best, because you deserve nothing less. In a special way, I lift up to you all those who are celebrating their birthdays today, but especially my wife Mady. Continue to bless her abundantly. May she feel your overflowing love all the days of her life. May she always treasure you, and may she feel your love and presence alive in her life. Amen. 

Blessed Day!

In Christ,

-g-

• July 28, 2021
• JULY 29, 2021

Wednesday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 403

Reading I

Ex 34:29-35

As Moses came down from Mount Sinai
with the two tablets of the commandments in his hands,
he did not know that the skin of his face had become radiant
while he conversed with the LORD.
When Aaron, then, and the other children of Israel saw Moses
and noticed how radiant the skin of his face had become,
they were afraid to come near him.
Only after Moses called to them did Aaron
and all the rulers of the community come back to him.
Moses then spoke to them.
Later on, all the children of Israel came up to him,
and he enjoined on them all that the LORD
had told him on Mount Sinai.
When he finished speaking with them,
he put a veil over his face.
Whenever Moses entered the presence of the LORD to converse with him,
he removed the veil until he came out again.
On coming out, he would tell the children of Israel
all that had been commanded.
Then the children of Israel would see
that the skin of Moses’ face was radiant;
so he would again put the veil over his face
until he went in to converse with the LORD.

Responsorial Psalm

99:5, 6, 7, 9

R.     (see 9c)  Holy is the Lord our God.
Extol the LORD, our God,
    and worship at his footstool;
    holy is he!
R.     Holy is the Lord our God.
Moses and Aaron were among his priests,
    and Samuel, among those who called upon his name;
    they called upon the LORD, and he answered them.
R.     Holy is the Lord our God.
From the pillar of cloud he spoke to them;
    they heard his decrees and the law he gave them.
R.     Holy is the Lord our God.
Extol the LORD, our God,
    and worship at his holy mountain;
    for holy is the LORD, our God.
R.     Holy is the Lord our God.

Alleluia

Jn 15:15b

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I call you my friends, says the Lord,
for I have made known to you all that the Father has told me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

Mt 13:44-46

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.
Again, the Kingdom of heaven is like a merchant
searching for fine pearls.
When he finds a pearl of great price,
he goes and sells all that he has and buys it.”

Shine Like the Sun

The WORD today reminds me that God will reward his followers in his perfect time.

Life is not a bed of roses. Life is unfair. In the gospel we saw the explanation of the gospel last week. We saw that the good seeds were mixed with the weeds, pretty much like life here on earth. Even if we try to live righteous lives, we will still be surrounded by evil people - which would try to convince us to give up living righteous lives and be like them. Sometimes the situation doesn't help.  We see them prosper and have a good life on earth. We may question why they seem to be blessed, or if what we are doing is really the way to go. We may question if it really is worth it.

God is not the ruler of the world.

The devil is - that is why many times, Jesus tells his disciples to live in the world but not of the world. Naturally, the enemy loves his own, so he gives worldly things those who follow him. However, God still provides and protects us, so we should just continue to remain faithful to Him.

God’s followers will shine like the Sun.

Life is not easy, but we should continue to hang on to God and his word, knowing that he is true to his word. No matter how difficult or challenging life may be, he will still protect us and make sure we have everything we need to move forward. As we remain faithful to God, we are sure that when the proper time comes, we will shine bright like the sun.

Nowadays, it is very important to shine for God. We have a lot of negativity. We have worries. However, God needs us to do good. God needs us to spread his love. We should be faithful and remind people of his love. That things will be better, especially when we do our part and help each other. 

Do I follow God at all times? Am I faithful to God? Or do I sin and falter, especially when I am influenced by the world? Do I really believe God is all powerful, and he has great plans for me? How can I be faithful to God and not be blinded by the world?

May we always remember how powerful and loving God is, and may it lead us to be faithful and expect reward from Him in his perfect time.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. thank you for the reminder. Thank you for knowing me. Thank you for speaking to me through different ways. Lord, sorry for being distracted. Sorry for questioning you and for questioning if I am making the right decision to live according to your word. Sorry for doubting you. Lord, as I live my life, may I always be reminded to focus on you, to remain faithful to you. It may not be easy, it may be tempting to do otherwise, but I know that no matter what I experience, you are always there watching, guiding and protecting me. And I know that as i remain faithful to you, I will shine bright with you in your kingdom. Amen

Blessed Day!

In Christ,

-g-

Ps

See related reflection:

https://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2017/08/when-i-do-not-know.html

• July 27, 2021
• JULY 28, 2021

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Tuesday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 402

Reading I

Ex 33:7-11; 34:5b-9, 28

The tent, which was called the meeting tent,
Moses used to pitch at some distance away, outside the camp.
Anyone who wished to consult the LORD
would go to this meeting tent outside the camp.
Whenever Moses went out to the tent, the people would all rise
and stand at the entrance of their own tents,
watching Moses until he entered the tent.
As Moses entered the tent, the column of cloud would come down
and stand at its entrance while the LORD spoke with Moses.
On seeing the column of cloud stand at the entrance of the tent,
all the people would rise and worship
at the entrance of their own tents.
The LORD used to speak to Moses face to face,
as one man speaks to another.
Moses would then return to the camp,
but his young assistant, Joshua, son of Nun,
would not move out of the tent.

Moses stood there with the LORD and proclaimed his name, “LORD.”
Thus the LORD passed before him and cried out,
“The LORD, the LORD, a merciful and gracious God,
slow to anger and rich in kindness and fidelity,
continuing his kindness for a thousand generations,
and forgiving wickedness and crime and sin;
yet not declaring the guilty guiltless,
but punishing children and grandchildren
to the third and fourth generation for their fathers’ wickedness!”
Moses at once bowed down to the ground in worship.
Then he said, “If I find favor with you, O LORD,
do come along in our company.
This is indeed a stiff-necked people; 
yet pardon our wickedness and sins,
and receive us as your own.”

So Moses stayed there with the LORD for forty days and forty nights,
without eating any food or drinking any water,
and he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant,
the ten commandments.

Responsorial Psalm

103:6-7, 8-9, 10-11, 12-13

R.     (8a)  The Lord is kind and merciful.
The LORD secures justice
    and the rights of all the oppressed.
He has made known his ways to Moses,
    and his deeds to the children of Israel.
R.     The Lord is kind and merciful.
Merciful and gracious is the LORD,
    slow to anger and abounding in kindness.
He will not always chide,
    nor does he keep his wrath forever.
R.     The Lord is kind and merciful.
Not according to our sins does he deal with us,
    nor does he requite us according to our crimes.
For as the heavens are high above the earth,
    so surpassing is his kindness toward those who fear him.
R.     The Lord is kind and merciful.
As far as the east is from the west,
    so far has he put our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion on his children,
    so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him.
R.     The Lord is kind and merciful.

Alleluia

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The seed is the word of God, Christ is the sower;
all who come to him will live for ever.
R. Alleluia, alleluia

Gospel

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.”

Do Not Forget

The WORD today reminds me that I should not forget all that God has done for me. 

They say that we only use a very small part of our brain. That is why our memory is very limited. As we grow older and as more things happen in life, we forget some things. However, we should not forget the essential and important things, because If we do, it can greatly affect our lives.

In the first reading, we see this in the Israelites. God has done a lot of great things for them – took them out of Egypt, spared their lives during Passover, parted the red sea, and even provided them with food in the dessert. However, they quickly forgot all these things and made a golden god to worship. OF course this made Moses angry with them, because he knows God is angry.

Hindi ka dapat mabilis makalimot sa Diyos. 

Sometimes we are like these people. God has done a lot of great things in our lives. He has provided for us, he has saved us and has healed us a lot of times in the past. However, as human beings, we will always tend to forget these things. However, sometimes even if we do not forget, we act as if we do. Sometimes, even if we know and remember all God has done, we just choose to love ourselves more than him. We just choose to give in to our desires, to our wants, and go against God. 

Giving in to our desires and loving ourselves too much can lead us to forget God.

The Israelites probably did not forget all what God has done for them, but maybe they just gave in to their desires and needs. They gave in to their want of having a god to worship, and they made one. Sometimes we are like that as well. We know God and all he has done for us, but at that moment, we just seem to have a strong urge to sin or go against God that we ignore him. However, God is forgiving and will always give us another chance. He allowed Moses to continue to lead the people, but we also see He is a God of justice and will punish us when the time is right.

We all know that God is faithful. God is powerful. We may not feel it now, but God will help us get through this pandemic. We just need to trust in Him. 

What are my concerns right now? How is this pandemic affecting me? Does it change the way I see or feel about God? Am I too worried or stressed? What is he telling me today?

May we remember all the things God has done for us, and may these things be enough for us to always surrender to God and put him first.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. thank you for another week. Lord, I am sorry for the times I forget all you have done for me. But most especially, I am sorry for the times that I do not forget but I act as if I do. Sorry for putting myself first, for loving myself more than I love you, for giving in to my desires and wants even if I know it will hurt you. Help me Lord to be a faithful and loyal servant. You have done so much and have given me much, and I just want to live my life telling you that I love you and that I thank you. May my life always be pleasing to you. amen.

Blessed Week!

In Christ,

-g-

Ps

See related reflection:

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2020/07/you-started-small.html

• July 26, 2021
• JULY 27, 2021

• Readings for the Memorial of Saints Joachim and Anne, parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Lectionary: 401

Reading I

Ex 32:15-24, 30-34

Moses turned and came down the mountain
with the two tablets of the commandments in his hands,
tablets that were written on both sides, front and back;
tablets that were made by God,
having inscriptions on them that were engraved by God himself.
Now, when Joshua heard the noise of the people shouting,
he said to Moses, “That sounds like a battle in the camp.”
But Moses answered, “It does not sound like cries of victory,
nor does it sound like cries of defeat;
the sounds that I hear are cries of revelry.”
As he drew near the camp, he saw the calf and the dancing.
With that, Moses’ wrath flared up, so that he threw the tablets down
and broke them on the base of the mountain.
Taking the calf they had made, he fused it in the fire
and then ground it down to powder,
which he scattered on the water and made the children of Israel drink.

Moses asked Aaron, “What did this people ever do to you
that you should lead them into so grave a sin?”
Aaron replied, “Let not my lord be angry.
You know well enough how prone the people are to evil.
They said to me, ‘Make us a god to be our leader;
as for the man Moses who brought us out of the land of Egypt,
we do not know what has happened to him.’
So I told them, ‘Let anyone who has gold jewelry take it off.’
They gave it to me, and I threw it into the fire, and this calf came out.”

On the next day Moses said to the people,
“You have committed a grave sin.
I will go up to the LORD, then;
perhaps I may be able to make atonement for your sin.”
So Moses went back to the LORD and said,
“Ah, this people has indeed committed a grave sin
in making a god of gold for themselves!
If you would only forgive their sin!
If you will not, then strike me out of the book that you have written.”
The LORD answered, “Him only who has sinned against me
will I strike out of my book.
Now, go and lead the people to the place I have told you.
My angel will go before you.
When it is time for me to punish, I will punish them for their sin.”

Responsorial Psalm

106:19-20, 21-22, 23

R.     (1a)  Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
Our fathers made a calf in Horeb
    and adored a molten image;
They exchanged their glory
    for the image of a grass-eating bullock.
R.     Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
They forgot the God who had saved them,
    who had done great deeds in Egypt,
Wondrous deeds in the land of Ham,
    terrible things at the Red Sea.
R.     Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
Then he spoke of exterminating them,
    but Moses, his chosen one,
Withstood him in the breach
    to turn back his destructive wrath.
R.     Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.

Alleluia

Jas 1:18

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Father willed to give us birth by the word of truth
that we may be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

Mt 13:31-35

Jesus proposed a parable to the crowds.
“The Kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed
that a person took and sowed in a field.
It is the smallest of all the seeds,
yet when full-grown it is the largest of plants.
It becomes a large bush,
and the birds of the sky come and dwell in its branches.”

He spoke to them another parable.
“The Kingdom of heaven is like yeast
that a woman took and mixed with three measures of wheat flour
until the whole batch was leavened.”

All these things Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables.
He spoke to them only in parables, 
to fulfill what had been said through the prophet:

    I will open my mouth in parables,
    I will announce what has lain hidden from the foundation of the world