The WORD today (see http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/080118.cfm) 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, 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.
In the first reading, we see why it a worth it. God said
that if we return to him. If we humble ourselves, he will take care of us. He
can do great things to us and through us. Also, the psalmist reminds us that
God is our refuge. This is how great God is. That is why we should be ready to
give up everything for our great God.
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 how 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. Amen.
Blessed Day!
In Christ,
-g-
August 1, 2018
Saint Alphonsus Liguouri,
Bishop and Doctor of the Church
Lectionary: 403
Lectionary: 403
Reading 1
Woe
to me, mother, that you gave me birth!
a man of strife and contention to all the land!
I neither borrow nor lend,
yet all curse me.
When I found your words, I devoured them;
they became my joy and the happiness of my heart,
Because I bore your name,
O LORD, God of hosts.
I did not sit celebrating
in the circle of merrymakers;
Under the weight of your hand I sat alone
because you filled me with indignation.
Why is my pain continuous,
my wound incurable, refusing to be healed?
You have indeed become for me a treacherous brook,
whose waters do not abide!
Thus the LORD answered me:
If you repent, so that I restore you,
in my presence you shall stand;
If you bring forth the precious without the vile,
you shall be my mouthpiece.
Then it shall be they who turn to you,
and you shall not turn to them;
And I will make you toward this people
a solid wall of brass.
Though they fight against you,
they shall not prevail,
For I am with you,
to deliver and rescue you, says the LORD.
I will free you from the hand of the wicked,
and rescue you from the grasp of the violent.
a man of strife and contention to all the land!
I neither borrow nor lend,
yet all curse me.
When I found your words, I devoured them;
they became my joy and the happiness of my heart,
Because I bore your name,
O LORD, God of hosts.
I did not sit celebrating
in the circle of merrymakers;
Under the weight of your hand I sat alone
because you filled me with indignation.
Why is my pain continuous,
my wound incurable, refusing to be healed?
You have indeed become for me a treacherous brook,
whose waters do not abide!
Thus the LORD answered me:
If you repent, so that I restore you,
in my presence you shall stand;
If you bring forth the precious without the vile,
you shall be my mouthpiece.
Then it shall be they who turn to you,
and you shall not turn to them;
And I will make you toward this people
a solid wall of brass.
Though they fight against you,
they shall not prevail,
For I am with you,
to deliver and rescue you, says the LORD.
I will free you from the hand of the wicked,
and rescue you from the grasp of the violent.
Responsorial Psalm PS 59:2-3,
4, 10-11, 17, 18
R.
(17d) God is my refuge on the day of
distress.
Rescue me from my enemies, O my God;
from my adversaries defend me.
Rescue me from evildoers;
from bloodthirsty men save me.
R. God is my refuge on the day of distress.
For behold, they lie in wait for my life;
mighty men come together against me,
Not for any offense or sin of mine, O LORD.
R. God is my refuge on the day of distress.
O my strength! for you I watch;
for you, O God, are my stronghold,
As for my God, may his mercy go before me;
may he show me the fall of my foes.
R. God is my refuge on the day of distress.
But I will sing of your strength
and revel at dawn in your mercy;
You have been my stronghold,
my refuge in the day of distress.
R. God is my refuge on the day of distress.
O my strength! your praise will I sing;
for you, O God, are my stronghold,
my merciful God!
R. God is my refuge on the day of distress.
Rescue me from my enemies, O my God;
from my adversaries defend me.
Rescue me from evildoers;
from bloodthirsty men save me.
R. God is my refuge on the day of distress.
For behold, they lie in wait for my life;
mighty men come together against me,
Not for any offense or sin of mine, O LORD.
R. God is my refuge on the day of distress.
O my strength! for you I watch;
for you, O God, are my stronghold,
As for my God, may his mercy go before me;
may he show me the fall of my foes.
R. God is my refuge on the day of distress.
But I will sing of your strength
and revel at dawn in your mercy;
You have been my stronghold,
my refuge in the day of distress.
R. God is my refuge on the day of distress.
O my strength! your praise will I sing;
for you, O God, are my stronghold,
my merciful God!
R. God is my refuge on the day of distress.
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.
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."
"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."
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