READING OF THE DAY First reading from the First Book of Kings 1 KGS 3:5, 7-12
The LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream at night. God said, “Ask something of me and I will give it to you.” Solomon answered: “O LORD, my God, you have made me, your servant, king to succeed my father David; but I am a mere youth, not knowing at all how to act. I serve you in the midst of the people whom you have chosen, a people so vast that it cannot be numbered or counted. Give your servant, therefore, an understanding heart to judge your people and to distinguish right from wrong. For who is able to govern this vast people of yours?”
The LORD was pleased that Solomon made this request. So God said to him: “Because you have asked for this— not for a long life for yourself, nor for riches, nor for the life of your enemies, but for understanding so that you may know what is right— I do as you requested. I give you a heart so wise and understanding that there has never been anyone like you up to now, and after you there will come no one to equal you.”
Second reading from the Letter of St. Paul to Romans ROM 8:28-30
Brothers and sisters: We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined he also called; and those he called he also justified; and those he justified he also glorified.
GOSPEL OF THE DAY From the Gospel according to Matthew 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.”
WORDS OF THE HOLY FATHER It is true that the Kingdom of God is offered to all — it is a gift, it is a present, it is a grace — but it does not come on a silver platter: it requires dynamism; it is about searching, journeying, working hard. The attitude of searching is the essential condition for finding. The heart must burn with the desire to reach the valuable good, that is, the Kingdom of God which is made present in the person of Jesus. He is the hidden treasure; he is the pearl of great value. (Angelus, 30 July 2017)
FAUSTI - "For the joy of it, he goes and sells everything he has and buys that field". These last four short parables, addressed to the disciples, complete Jesus' discourse with an appeal to decision and responsibility. Joy is the strength to decide for the Kingdom, a treasure to live coherently and to transmit appropriately. The first two parables are symmetrical, but with differences that illuminate different aspects of the one theme: deciding for what is worthwhile. They speak of "finding" (the result of an "explicit search" or not), of a "hidden treasure" and of a "beautiful pearl" - suggestive images of the value and beauty of the Kingdom - and put the accent on "selling everything" to "buy" the field and the pearl. It is not enough to search or find: you have to decide. Whoever wants to keep his foot in two shoes, does not walk. The reason for the decision is joy, passion for treasure. Love for Jesus makes you indifferent to the rest, free to finally walk towards happiness. This is why God gives us joy: to make us decide. And that is why the enemy does everything to make us sad. To prevent us from taking any positive decisions. The second pair of parables is about responsibility. It is true that the Church is not a sect of the just ones. It is the great net, thrown into the sea, that fishes the brothers out of the abyss. Woe if it were not so! But he who has obtained mercy, lives it with care towards the others. The goodness of God is an incentive to correspond to it, not an alibi for wickedness: salvation is to be like Him! In a special way the "scribe" is responsible for understanding everything and transmitting it in its entirety, with attention to the new and to the old, to interpretation and to tradition. He must keep in mind the New and the Old Testament, showing the truth of the promises in the light of Jesus, which is the fulfillment. It is impossible to understand the fulfilment without knowing the promise, but also to gather the promise without knowing the fulfilment. The veil of the Old Testament is lifted only by Christ (2 Cor 3:14-16). The Bible is the family treasure, from which, in due time, the scribe, faithful steward of the mysteries of the Kingdom, distributes his ration of food to each one. Blessed is the servant whom the master, upon his return, will find to serve in this way. Otherwise he belongs to the number of those who close the Kingdom of Heaven before men: they do not enter it and prevent others from entering. Jesus is the hidden treasure and the precious pearl. Whoever, sooner or later, finds Him, whether he seeks Him not, like the peasant, or whether he seeks Him, like the merchant. The Lord, as He makes Himself found by those who seek Him (Is 66:6), so says: "Here I am" by making Himself found even by those who do not seek Him (Is 55:1). He is Wisdom who prepares the banquet of life: the joy of having met Him is the strength to decide to achieve Him. The Church is made up of those who center their lives on Him, treasure and precious pearl; for the rest, they serve as much as He likes. Everyone is responsible for living concretely in the light of this love. The scribe, in a special way, is called to transmit well this treasure, ancient in its newness and always new in its ancient root.
READING OF THE DAY
RispondiEliminaFirst reading from the First Book of Kings
1 KGS 3:5, 7-12
The LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream at night.
God said, “Ask something of me and I will give it to you.”
Solomon answered:
“O LORD, my God, you have made me, your servant, king
to succeed my father David;
but I am a mere youth, not knowing at all how to act.
I serve you in the midst of the people whom you have chosen,
a people so vast that it cannot be numbered or counted.
Give your servant, therefore, an understanding heart
to judge your people and to distinguish right from wrong.
For who is able to govern this vast people of yours?”
The LORD was pleased that Solomon made this request.
So God said to him:
“Because you have asked for this—
not for a long life for yourself,
nor for riches,
nor for the life of your enemies,
but for understanding so that you may know what is right—
I do as you requested.
I give you a heart so wise and understanding
that there has never been anyone like you up to now,
and after you there will come no one to equal you.”
Second reading from the Letter of St. Paul to Romans
ROM 8:28-30
Brothers and sisters:
We know that all things work for good for those who love God,
who are called according to his purpose.
For those he foreknew he also predestined
to be conformed to the image of his Son,
so that he might be the firstborn
among many brothers and sisters.
And those he predestined he also called;
and those he called he also justified;
and those he justified he also glorified.
GOSPEL OF THE DAY
From the Gospel according to Matthew
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.”
WORDS OF THE HOLY FATHER
It is true that the Kingdom of God is offered to all — it is a gift, it is a present, it is a grace — but it does not come on a silver platter: it requires dynamism; it is about searching, journeying, working hard. The attitude of searching is the essential condition for finding. The heart must burn with the desire to reach the valuable good, that is, the Kingdom of God which is made present in the person of Jesus. He is the hidden treasure; he is the pearl of great value. (Angelus, 30 July 2017)
FAUSTI - "For the joy of it, he goes and sells everything he has and buys that field". These last four short parables, addressed to the disciples, complete Jesus' discourse with an appeal to decision and responsibility. Joy is the strength to decide for the Kingdom, a treasure to live coherently and to transmit appropriately. The first two parables are symmetrical, but with differences that illuminate different aspects of the one theme: deciding for what is worthwhile.
RispondiEliminaThey speak of "finding" (the result of an "explicit search" or not), of a "hidden treasure" and of a "beautiful pearl" - suggestive images of the value and beauty of the Kingdom - and put the accent on "selling everything" to "buy" the field and the pearl.
It is not enough to search or find: you have to decide.
Whoever wants to keep his foot in two shoes, does not walk.
The reason for the decision is joy, passion for treasure.
Love for Jesus makes you indifferent to the rest, free to finally walk towards happiness.
This is why God gives us joy: to make us decide. And that is why the enemy does everything to make us sad. To prevent us from taking any positive decisions.
The second pair of parables is about responsibility.
It is true that the Church is not a sect of the just ones. It is the great net, thrown into the sea, that fishes the brothers out of the abyss. Woe if it were not so! But he who has obtained mercy, lives it with care towards the others. The goodness of God is an incentive to correspond to it, not an alibi for wickedness:
salvation is to be like Him!
In a special way the "scribe" is responsible for understanding everything and transmitting it in its entirety, with attention to the new and to the old, to interpretation and to tradition. He must keep in mind the New and the Old Testament, showing the truth of the promises in the light of Jesus, which is the fulfillment.
It is impossible to understand the fulfilment without knowing the promise, but also to gather the promise without knowing the fulfilment.
The veil of the Old Testament is lifted only by Christ (2 Cor 3:14-16).
The Bible is the family treasure, from which, in due time, the scribe, faithful steward of the mysteries of the Kingdom, distributes his ration of food to each one.
Blessed is the servant whom the master, upon his return, will find to serve in this way.
Otherwise he belongs to the number of those who close the Kingdom of Heaven before men: they do not enter it and prevent others from entering.
Jesus is the hidden treasure and the precious pearl.
Whoever, sooner or later, finds Him, whether he seeks Him not, like the peasant, or whether he seeks Him, like the merchant.
The Lord, as He makes Himself found by those who seek Him (Is 66:6), so says: "Here I am" by making Himself found even by those who do not seek Him (Is 55:1).
He is Wisdom who prepares the banquet of life: the joy of having met Him is the strength to decide to achieve Him.
The Church is made up of those who center their lives on Him, treasure and precious pearl; for the rest, they serve as much as He likes.
Everyone is responsible for living concretely in the light of this love.
The scribe, in a special way, is called to transmit well this treasure, ancient in its newness and always new in its ancient root.