The Spiritual Treasure – shortCUTEchism

SUNDAY, JULY 30, 2023 | ORDINARY TIME
SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
YEAR A | ROMAN MISSAL | LECTIONARY

First Reading       1 Kings 3:5, 7–12
Response       Psalm 119:97a
Psalm       119:57, 72, 76–77, 127–130
Second Reading       Romans 8:28–30
Gospel Acclamation       Matthew 11:25
Gospel       Matthew 13:44–52 or Matthew 13:44–46

Brothers and sisters,

In today’s Gospel, Jesus shares two more illustrations of the Kingdom of Heaven: The Treasure and the Pearl. The Treasure is not just any treasure, but the most valuable one, and those who search for it will go to great lengths to obtain it.:

“When a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.”
Matthew 13:44

When we talk about “treasure,” we should pay attention. The Treasure could be a highly valued object in our lives, but it could also bring spiritual dangers. We need to calculate the Treasure, that is, [Most Probably happened] easily lost and unsatisfied. It can also lead us to greed, pride, and idolatry: “for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.” [Lk 12:15]

And above all, the treasure obsession can lead a person away from God.

When Jesus illustrated the Kingdom of Heaven as the supreme “Treasure [and Pearl], it should be understood not in material possessions. She ST consists in knowing God and his wisdom. The wisdom of God is found in his Word: “Therefore I love thy commandments. Above gold; yea, above fine gold.” [Ps 119:127].

The spiritual Treasure consists of the eternal value of knowing and serving God. Christians should be like the man who seeks and find the Treasure and the pearl. First of all, it is God who wants people to seek him: God’s call and promise.

And for all, it requires the wholehearted human act of seeking because the seeking of God must begin from our heart [while sometimes we prefer our human logic to spiritual heart in seeking and finding God. Therefore, The Kingdom of Heaven will be our priority in life. As Jesus taught: “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” [Mt 6:33]

RDHJ23

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