WEDNESDAY OF THE 17TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME OF THE YEAR
Mystery of the day: Glorious
Celebration: Ferial
Liturgical Colour: Green
Table of the Word
First Reading: Exodus 34:29-35
Gospel: Matthew 13:44–46
Theme: Divine Encounter
Reflection
Dearest friends in the Lord, beautiful morning to you all with God's choicest blessings. We are at it again today as the Mother Church beautifully presents before us spiritual pills to aid us along this path of salvation. The first reading, taken from the Book of Exodus 34:29–35, gives an account of how Moses' face became radiant on encountering God. While the psalmist invites us to praise He who creates all creatures in creation - the Lord (cf. Psalm 99:5–9). The Goodnews today is extracted from the gospel pericope according to Matthew who reported theparables of our Lord on the hidden traesure and pearl of great price (cf. Matthew 13:44–46).
This powerful scene in the first reading captures what happens when a human being comes into deep communion with the Divine. The encounter leaves an indelible mark, a visible transformation. Moses becomes a living witness to God’s glory, not just in words but in appearance. Similar experience could be seen in the former Saul now St. Paul’s encounter with Jesus on his way to Damascus (cf. Acts 9:1–19; cf. Acts 22:6–16; Acts 26:12–18).
However, true prayer leaves a trace. Just as prolonged sun exposure changes the skin, sustained intimacy with God leaves us spiritually luminous not necessarily physically, but morally, emotionally, and in our witness. Holiness is contagious, but so is superficiality. The question is: What do others perceive after we’ve been in God’s presence?
Sadly, sometimes people sees us worst than we were, possibly we had a shallow relationship with God or we were not serious with what we were doing. To that which is little in human calculations God sees it big for He is not seeing as man.
In the light of this, that our Lord this morning presents before us this parables of abandonment: the parables of the Hidden Treasure and of a Pearl with Great Value.
In our day-to-day living experience, there is need to let go. The question is: Let go what? Letting go here, has to do with our comfort, that which pleases us and displeases God. As the man and the rich merchant went out their ways to sell out all they had just to get these treasures. These stories teach us that the Kingdom of God is not something we casually add to our llives but that which we reorder our lives around.
The Catechism teaches that the Kingdom is both “already present in the Church” and “yet to be fulfilled in glory” (CCC 763, 2816). Finding it is like encountering a divine spark, the face of God, like Moses did, and it transforms what we value.
Dearest friends, as the man and the merchant in the Gospel encountered something valuable, and it changed their choices. What transformation can we boast of in our encounter with the Lord? Day-in, day-out we gather around the two Tables: Table of the Word and Table of the Eucharist. What transformation has occurred in our lives? God’s presence transforms us and demands a response. Let us therefore be open to Divine transformation in our day-to-day encounter with God. There and the we will be transformed like Moses and be fulfilled like the man and the merchant who have bought something of high value.
+ Peace be with you.
© ARCHIVE 30072025
No comments:
Post a Comment