Give Up Everything

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/080217.cfm) reminds me that I should be ready to give up everything for God. 

In the gospel, we see that the kingdom of heaven costs something, actually everything…everything that we have right now.

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”

The people sold everything they had to buy the greatest price – the treasure. The first one sold everything to buy the field with the treasure in it, the second one sold everything to buy the pearl.

Is God that demanding? Probably not. He does not tell everyone to sell all they have for him. 

Then what does this mean?

I believe that this is more of us emptying ourselves of what we currently have to receive the fullness of God’s kingdom. Like a glass full of water, we cannot receive more without emptying ourselves of what we already have. As we find out and realize the importance of God’s kingdom, we will be moved to want it. We will be moved to empty ourselves of what we have to make space for God. 

God can only fill you if you are empty of yourself. 

The bible says that God’s love transforms. The old self is no more, the new self emerges. We empty ourselves of our old life – with all the bad habits, favourite sins, vices, and all those that prevent us from fully enjoying God. We rid ourselves of those as we prepare to welcome the new self God is giving us.

May we be ready to empty ourselves of everything preventing us from receiving the fullness of God’s kingdom.

Father God,

Thank you for today. thank you for another day to live. Thank you for wanting only the best for me. Thank you for the desire in me that wants you. Lord, sorry for not always having this desire. Sorry for wanting other material things more than you. Lord, I pray that you help me prepare myself and empty myself of anything and everything that prevents me from enjoying the fullness of your kingdom. Slowly transform me until I become the person you want me to be. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

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August 2, 2017
Wednesday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 403

Reading 1EX 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 PsalmPS 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.

AlleluiaJN 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.

GospelMT 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."