July 30, 2014: Wednesday, 17th week, Ordinary Time
Readings
- Jer 15:10, 16-21 All curse me. "Lord, your words became my joy and happiness. I sat alone because you filled me with indignation. Why is my pain continuous, my wound incurable?" Lord: "If you repent, I'll restore you, and you'll be my mouthpiece. People who fight you won't prevail for I am with you to rescue and free you.
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| 'Pearl of great price' from today's readings |
- Ps 59:2-3, 4, 10-11, 17-18 "God is my refuge on the day of distress." Rescue me; people lie in wait for my life. You are my stronghold. May your mercy go before me. I'll sing of your strength and mercy.
- Mt 13:44-46 “The Kingdom is like a treasure buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again, and out of joy sells all he has to buy the field. The Kingdom is like a merchant searching for fine pearls; when he finds one of great price, he sells all that he has and buys it.”
- I found the treasure/ Schutte (see Sunday for the albums it's in)
- Creighton: Evil, loss, illness, and suffering afflict us all, but “I am with you”: the Kingdom of Heaven is already here; God is manifesting himself in our world. / The gospel says “the Kingdom is like a merchant...” (vs. the pearl he seeks): the Kingdom is looking for the pearl; i.e. God’s power, presence and love are here for us. Thy kingdom come!
- One Bread One Body: If on account of God's word people hate you, you feel abandoned, you're in pain, you're tempted to turn away from the Lord or actually turn away, remember the promise: "If you repent,... you'll stand in my presence and be my mouthpiece." If we live and proclaim God's Word, the Lord will ultimately free us.
- Passionist: What is the "pearl of great price" in my life? Bread's love song Everything I own expresses the priority of the beloved: "I would give everything I own, / Give up my life, my heart, my home, / I would give everything I own, / Just to have you back again." The question isn't "What do we possess?" but "What possesses, grips, and motivates us?" Jesus challenges us to choose him above all and commit ourselves totally.
- DailyScripture.net: In peasant communities the best safe was the earth; the man joyfully sold everything because he found something worth having above everything else. God offers his kingdom at a price we can afford: we can't pay full price for divine life; but when give our life, we receive a treasure beyond compare. / Pearls represented supreme value. The kingdom has the greatest treasure: God himself. "Selling all" may mean changing friends, job, lifestyle...
- Universalis: St. Peter Chrysologus ["golden-words"], bishop, preacher
- Sermons of St. Peter Chrysologus: see Confraternity of St. Joan of Arc and Crossroads Initiative
Apparel
- 'Circle' tie pin: "I didn't celebrate in the circle of merrymakers" (1st reading); green inside for Ordinary Time (season)
- 'Hands' tie: "Under the weight of your hand I sat"; "I'll free you from the hand of the wicked" (1st reading)
- Blue shirt: "You've become for me a treacherous brook" (1st reading)
- 'Pearl' tie bar (again :-) : "Again, the Kingdom is like a merchant searching for fine pearls." (gospel)
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