Parables Of The Hidden Treasure And The Pearl

July 28, 2021, Wednesday
Wednesday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time (Green)
CYCLE B - YEAR I
Lectionary: 403

Reading I
Ex 34:29-35

As Moses came down from Mount Sinai
with the two tablets of the commandments in his hands,
he did not know that the skin of his face had become radiant
while he conversed with the LORD.
When Aaron, then, and the other children of Israel saw Moses
and noticed how radiant the skin of his face had become,
they were afraid to come near him.
Only after Moses called to them did Aaron
and all the rulers of the community come back to him.
Moses then spoke to them.
Later on, all the children of Israel came up to him,
and he enjoined on them all that the LORD
had told him on Mount Sinai.
When he finished speaking with them,
he put a veil over his face.
Whenever Moses entered the presence of the LORD to converse with him,
he removed the veil until he came out again.
On coming out, he would tell the children of Israel
all that had been commanded.
Then the children of Israel would see
that the skin of Moses’ face was radiant;
so he would again put the veil over his face
until he went in to converse with the LORD.

Responsorial Psalm
99:5, 6, 7, 9

R.     (see 9c)  Holy is the Lord our God.

Extol the LORD, our God,
    and worship at his footstool;
    holy is he!

R.     Holy is the Lord our God.

Moses and Aaron were among his priests,
    and Samuel, among those who called upon his name;
    they called upon the LORD, and he answered them.

R.     Holy is the Lord our God.

From the pillar of cloud he spoke to them;
    they heard his decrees and the law he gave them.

R.     Holy is the Lord our God.

Extol the LORD, our God,
    and worship at his holy mountain;
    for holy is the LORD, our God.

R.     Holy is the Lord our God.

Alleluia
Jn 15:15b

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

I call you my friends, says the Lord,
for I have made known to you all that the Father has told me.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GOSPEL
Mt 13:44-46

Jesus said to his disciples:
“The Kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field,
which a person finds and hides again,
and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
Again, the Kingdom of heaven is like a merchant
searching for fine pearls.
When he finds a pearl of great price,
he goes and sells all that he has and buys it.”

REFLECTION:

Imagine the reaction of the person who finds the hidden treasure in this parable, how their heart must have leaped to find it! Their whole life is turned around; for the first time in their life, they have hope that things will be better. They can’t wait to tell their family but know they have to keep the treasure a secret until they have bought the field. But the person’s family will notice the change in them and wonder what good news has got hold of them.

The kingdom is a treasure as precious as the finest of pearls. It should be our greatest and most important possession. It means that my values are the values of God. Is that how I see it? Would anyone know?

PRAYER:

Lord, you talk of the joy of discovery. That is the sign that I have found your treasure, deep happiness that nothing can separate me from you.