From: Matthew 13:44-46
The Hidden Treasure; The Pearl
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(Jesus said to His disciples,) [44] “The Kingdom of Heaven is like treasure hid-
den in a field, which a man found and covered up; then in his joy he goes and
sells all that he has and buys that field.
[45] “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls,
[46] who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and
bought it.
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Commentary:
44-46. In these two parables Jesus shows the supreme value of the Kingdom of
Heaven, and the attitude people need if they are to attain it. The parables are very
alike, but it is interesting to note the differences: the treasure means abundance
of gifts; the pearl indicates the beauty of the Kingdom. The treasure is something
stumbled upon; the pearl, the result of a lengthy search; but in both instances
the finder is filled with joy. Faith, vocation, true wisdom, desire for Heaven, are
things which sometimes are discovered suddenly and unexpectedly, and some-
times after much searching (cf. St. Gregory the Great, “In Evangelia Homilae”,
11). However, the man’s attitude is the same in both parables and is described
in the same terms: “he goes and sells all that he has and buys it”: detachment,
generosity, is indispensable for obtaining the treasure.
“Anyone who understands the Kingdom which Christ proposes realizes that it is
worth staking everything to obtain it [...]. The Kingdom of Heaven is difficult to win.
No one can be sure of achieving it, but the humble cry of a repentant man can
open wide its doors” (St. J. Escriva, “Christ Is Passing By”, 180).
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Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.

Readings at Mass

First reading

Exodus 34:29-35 ©

When Moses came down from the mountain of Sinai – as he came down from the mountain, Moses had the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands – he did not know that the skin on his face was radiant after speaking with the Lord. And when Aaron and all the sons of Israel saw Moses, the skin on his face shone so much that they would not venture near him. But Moses called to them, and Aaron with all the leaders of the community came back to him; and he spoke to them. Then all the sons of Israel came closer, and he passed on to them all the orders that the Lord had given him on the mountain of Sinai. And when Moses had finished speaking to them, he put a veil over his face. Whenever he went into the Lord’s presence to speak with him, Moses would remove the veil until he came out again. And when he came out, he would tell the sons of Israel what he had been ordered to pass on to them, and the sons of Israel would see the face of Moses radiant. Then Moses would put the veil back over his face until he returned to speak with the Lord.

Psalm

Psalm 98:5-7,9 ©