Our Lady Of Perpetual Help

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Reflection - Week of July 26

Question of the Week:

 What sacrifices am I willing to make and what hardships am I willing to endure in order to gain the kingdom of heaven?  

     It would be easy to misinterpret the first two parables we hear in today’s Gospel and conclude that they were about becoming wealthy be yond our wildest dreams. Both the person who finds the buried treasure and the merchant who finds the pearl of great price sell all they have to buy their treasure. But note that they don’t turn around and sell these objects for a huge windfall. Nor are they holding them as investments that can appreciate in value. No, these objects are their goal. They have found their true treasures. For us disciples, Jesus says, our treasure is the kingdom of heaven. May we appreciate the treasure of the kingdom and joyfully pay the cost of discipleship, bear our crosses, make our sacrifices, and give what we have to those in need in order to obtain it.

     Like the “false wheat” we heard about last week, which was allowed to grow along side the wheat until it was harvested, then thrown into “the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth” (Matthew 13:42, 50), the “bad” fish meet the same end. In each case, we trust God to make the judgment between good and bad. In each case, we are given a warning about those who are wicked, who try to corrupt those who are righteous. But it is also a warning to those who do evil, that they have until the time of the harvest to change their ways. May we heed God’s warning and take advantage of our opportunity to repent of our sins as soon as possible, for we know not when the net will sweep us up.