17TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
St. Alphonsus Liguori, bishop & doctor
Psalter: Week 1 / (White)
Ps 59:2-3, 4, 10-11, 17, 18
God is my refuge
on the day of distress.
1st Reading: Jer 15:10, 16-21
Woe is me, Mother, why did you bring me to the light? A man of dissension throughout the land!
I owe them nothing, neither do they owe me, yet they all curse me!
I devoured your words when they came.
They were my happiness and I felt full of joy when you made your name rest on me.
I never associate with worldly people, amusing myself with scoffers!
When your hand was upon me I stood apart and you filled me with your anger.
Why is there no end to my sorrow or healing for my wound?
Why do you deceive me, and why does my spring suddenly dry up?
Then Yahweh spoke to me, “If you return I will take you back and you will serve me again.
Draw the gold from the dross and you will be as my own mouth.
You must draw them to you and not go over to them. I will make you a fortress and a wall of bronze facing them; if they fight against you they will not overcome you;
I am with you to free you and save you.
I will redeem you from the wicked and free you from the hands of tyrants.”
Gospel: Mt 13:44-46
The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure, hidden in a field. The one who finds it, buries it again; and so happy is he, that he goes and sells everything he has, in order to buy that field.
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a trader, who is looking for fine pearls. Once he has found a pearl of exceptional quality, he goes away, sells everything he has and buys it.
Reflections
The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure, hidden in a field
Where and how will I find happiness? What gives meaning to my life?
Many of us seek happiness in the things of this world — wealth, power and honor which, however, cannot satisfy our deepest longings. We amass more and more yet feel emptier within. We attain power and honor but nevertheless feel incomplete. Finite things cannot fulfill our infinite longings.
To find the treasure hidden in the field or the pearl of great price is to realize that God is my deepest longing, that God alone can satisfy my infinite longings.
Daily Reflection 2018
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Biblical Texts are taken from Christian Community Bible, Catholic Pastoral Edition (57th Edition) The New English Translation for the ROMAN MISSAL
With permission from the EPISCOPAL COMMISION ON LITURGY of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines
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