Welcome to my blog and peace be with you.
You will find here, daily readings from the
Sacred Scriptures, provided for us by the Catholic Church under the inspiration
of the Holy Spirit. Through a daily reading and prayerful reflection on God’s
Word we will come to know the Truth. The Truth is not just a word, but a
Person. He, the Truth, will make us free – free from everything that binds us
I welcome your comments or any question you may
have about the Scriptures or the Catholic Faith.
Sunday 26
July 2020
The pearl of great price: he who searches, finds
Ps 67: 6-7, 36
God is in his
holy place,
God who
unites those who dwell in his house;
he himself
gives might and strength to his people.
____________________
Prayer
O God,
protector of those who hope in you,
without whom
nothing has firm foundation, nothing is holy,
bestow in
abundance your mercy upon us
and grant
that, with you as our ruler and guide,
we may use
the good things that pass
in such a way
as to hold fast even now
to those that
ever endure.
Through our
Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and
reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for
ever and ever.
____________________
First reading
1 Kings 3:5,7-12 ·
Solomon chooses the gift of wisdom
The Lord
appeared to Solomon in a dream and said, ‘Ask what you would like me to give
you.’ Solomon replied, ‘O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in
succession to David my father. But I am a very young man, unskilled in
leadership. Your servant finds himself in the midst of this people of yours
that you have chosen, a people so many its number cannot be counted or
reckoned. Give your servant a heart to understand how to discern between good
and evil, for who could govern this people of yours that is so great?’ It
pleased the Lord that Solomon should have asked for this. ‘Since you have asked
for this’ the Lord said ‘and not asked for long life for yourself or riches or
the lives of your enemies, but have asked for a discerning judgement for
yourself, here and now I do what you ask. I give you a heart wise and shrewd as
none before you has had and none will have after you.’ THE WORD OF THE LORD
Prayerful
reflection
After the forty-year
reign of David which was always considered the golden age, Solomon takes over
the guidance of Israel. The kings of Israel were called shepherds. They were to
lead God’s people as his deputies. Asked by God what gift he wants as he begins
his reign, Solomon asks for wisdom. God is greatly pleased with his request. It
is the most important of all God’s gifts. Without wisdom, though we may be
blessed with all other gifts, we will lead the boat of our life on to the rocks
and disaster. Wisdom teaches us what is important in life and how to live and
how to guide others.
We are all ‘shepherd
kings’ in some way or other. Parents are the ‘shepherd kings’ of their families.
Furthermore, their role in society is crucial for the welfare of the whole
state. The family is the basic cell of the community of the state. Parents need
to pray the prayer of Solomon so that they can love their children with wisdom
and guide them onto their path in life. Healthy families bring about a healthy
state. Each drop of rain is important, for all together they form the river. Likewise,
each family is important in building a world of justice, peace and prosperity.
Do you pray
for wisdom in your own life and to help others in theirs?
____________________
Psalm
Psalm 119:57,72,76-77,127-130
Lord,
how I love your law!
My part, I
have resolved, O Lord,
is to obey
your word.
The law from
your mouth means more to me
than silver
and gold.
Lord,
how I love your law!
Let your love
be ready to console me
by your
promise to your servant.
Let your love
come and I shall live
for your law
is my delight.
Lord,
how I love your law!
That is why I
love your commands
more than
finest gold,
why I rule my
life by your precepts,
and hate
false ways.
Lord,
how I love your law!
Your will is
wonderful indeed;
therefore I
obey it.
The unfolding
of your word gives light
and teaches
the simple.
Lord,
how I love your law!
____________________
Second reading
Romans 8:28-30 ·
Those he called, he justified
We know that
by turning everything to their good, God co-operates with all those who love
him, with all those he has called according to his purpose. They are the ones
he chose specially long ago and intended to become true images of his Son, so
that his Son might be the eldest of many brothers. He called those he intended
for this; those he called he justified, and with those he justified he shared
his glory. THE WORD OF THE LORD
Prayerful
reflection
For all those
who love Jesus, true God, this passage gives peace in every circumstance of
life. We are able to rejoice and thank God, whatever happens to us or to those
we love. Our loving Father would not allow this to happen, unless he will bring
out of this very distress immense good. We remember what St. Paul told us last
week: I think the sufferings of this life are not worth comparing with the glory
which is going to be revealed. There could be nothing worse than crucifying the
Son of God in human form, yet from this very crime God has brought out the
glorious salvation of all the saints – the glory in which one day we too will
share.
By the work
of the Spirit we are to become the living images of the Son of God – this is
what it means become the child of God. Now we begin as we struggle in faith but
our Father will bring this to perfection when we share in the Resurrection of
Jesus, his Son from all eternity.
Gospel Acclamation
Jn15:15
Alleluia,
alleluia!
I call you
friends, says the Lord,
because I
have made known to you
everything I
have learnt from my Father.
Alleluia!
____________________
Gospel
Matthew 13:44-52
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.
‘Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet
cast into the sea that brings in a haul of all kinds. When it is full, the
fishermen haul it ashore; then, sitting down, they collect the good ones in a
basket and throw away those that are no use. This is how it will be at the end
of time: the angels will appear and separate the wicked from the just to throw
them into the blazing furnace where there will be weeping and grinding of
teeth.
‘Have you understood all this?’ They said, ‘Yes.’
And he said to them, ‘Well then, every scribe who becomes a disciple of the
kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out from his storeroom
things both new and old.’ THE GOSPEL OF THE LORD
Prayerful reflection
What is the treasure hidden in the field and what is the pearl of
great price? It is surely that which will give us the greatest joy and happiness
so that we can be at peace, without tension and worry.
Some find this quite by accident, like the farm labourer working on
someone else’s field. He suddenly and without any warning comes upon this
treasure, for which he happily gives up everything to get hold of it. Of course,
he must have the wisdom to realise it is the treasure of his life and not some
old junk. It happened that someone in Britain sold in a ‘car-boot sale’ what
they thought was an imitation diamond. They got a mere pittance for it. The person
who bought it came to know it was actually a very valuable diamond and they
sold it for a fortune. It’s like that with the treasure of life.
The other man is a serious searcher. There are those who seriously
search for the source of true happiness and peace. When they find it, they go
for it with all their heart. Nothing will stop them.
Then what is it? It is to come to know Jesus personally, to invite him
into our life and accept his offering to be his friend. That friendship will
grow until it brings us to sitting on the very throne of God. “Listen. I stand
at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come
in. I will dine with him and he with me. He who is victorious will sit with me
on my throne, just as I was victorious and sit on my Father’s throne” (Rev
3:21-22). “I no longer call you servants, but my friends”
The offer is open to you. Have you the wisdom to recognize the
treasure and the pearl of immense value? Those who do have the wisdom, will
give up everything to acquire it.
Mt 5: 7-8
Blessed are
the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
Blessed are the
clean of heart, for they shal
l see God.
____________________
Prayer
We have
consumed, O Lord, this divine Sacrament,
the perpetual
memorial of the Passion of your Son;
grant, we
pray, that this gift,
which he
himself gave us with love beyond all telling,
may profit us
for salvation.
Through
Christ our Lord.
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