Living out our Christian faith is far from easy. You might say it is the most challenging thing to do in anyone’s life. Add the multiplier if you’re Catholic. For then even your fellow Christians who do not yet understand, look upon you with suspicion even disdain. Why then even bother? How do we not complain or rebel?
Simply because we have found the treasure of the Kingdom of God through Jesus Christ our Lord and His Church of which He founded upon His rock. By living in His truth we live in the comfort of knowing He is with us always come what may. And so even amidst trials and sufferings we have peace, love and joy in our hearts.
Lord Jesus, let me be a beacon for Your Kingdom. Amen
First reading
Jeremiah 15:10,16-21
They will not overcome you, because I am with you
‘Woe is me, my mother, for you have borne me to be a man of strife and of dissension for all the land. I neither lend nor borrow, yet all of them curse me.
‘When your words came, I devoured them: your word was my delight
and the joy of my heart;
for I was called by your name, the Lord, God of Hosts.
I never took pleasure in sitting in scoffers’ company; with your hand on me I held myself aloof, since you had filled me with indignation.
Why is my suffering continual, my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? Do you mean to be for me a deceptive stream with inconstant waters?’
To which the Lord replied, ‘If you come back,I will take you back into my service; and if you utter noble, not despicable, thoughts,
you shall be as my own mouth.
They will come back to you, but you must not go back to them.
I will make you a bronze wall fortified against this people.
They will fight against you but they will not overcome you, because I am with you to save you and to deliver you – it is the Lord who speaks.
I mean to deliver you from the hands of the wicked and redeem you from the clutches of the violent.’
Gospel
Matthew 13:44-46
He sells everything he owns and buys the field
Jesus said to the crowds: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field which someone has found; he hides it again, goes off happy, sells everything he owns and buys the field.
‘Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls; when he finds one of great value he goes and sells everything he owns and buys it.’
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