A Prized Treasure

“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.”

Matthew 13:44

Have you ever found out some news that you cannot share with others until later? Maybe it’s a job promotion, a new job, getting married, or news about a pregnancy. These are all tremendous joys! How did you feel when you found out that particular piece of news? Excited? Overjoyed? Happy? Grateful? Blessed? We want so badly to share this news with our family and friends, but we realize we need to wait to see when would be best to do so.

Jesus tells us that the Kingdom of Heaven is like that treasure, that kind of great news. One that we are willing to give up everything to secure it and safeguard it. Not doing so to keep it for ourselves but that we may share it with others. Do we love Our Lord and our neighbors enough to give up everything in order that all might know the Good News and the One who loves them?  Today let us examine ourselves and our faith and ask the Lord to give us the strength, courage, and resolve to follow Him and to safeguard our faith like a prized treasure buried in a field so that not only we will have the gift but others as well.  

After His Own Heart

“I will appoint over you shepherds after my own heart,

who will shepherd you wisely and prudently.”

Jeremiah 3:15

Memorial of St. Sharbel Makhlūf, Priest

God promised the people of Israel that He would send people to lead them, guide them, encourage them, teach them, and comfort them. He would not abandon them in the midst of slavery or exile. That even when all seems dark and lost, there remains a light and a hope that can never be extinguished. The Lord sent prophets throughout the history of Israel, encouraging the people, speaking for the Lord, anointing kings, and in the fullness of time, God sent His Son, the King of Kings and Lord or Lords, the greatest prophet and the Good Shepherd to save us and to lead us to Paradise with Him.

But the people did not always listen and heed the messages of the prophets and leaders. God continued to send but the people could choose to listen or ignore. When finally He sent His only begotten Son, many ignored and even called for His death. Though they condemned Him to death, even the grave could not hold Him down. After rising from the dead, He returned to the Father, asking Him to send the Holy Spirit to continue to be with us. God appointed shepherds and prophets for the Israelites then, and He continues today to appoint shepherds after His own heart.  May we always pray for all priests, bishops, and church leaders that they remain faithful to the One who has called them, and may we ask the Father for the grace of humility to always listen to His voice through those whom He has called – shepherds after His own heart.

Cracked Cisterns

“Two evils have my people done:

they have forsaken me, the source of living waters;

They have dug themselves cisterns,

broken cisterns, that hold no water.”

Jeremiah 2:13

Have we forsaken Our God? Have we forgotten the One who calls us His children? Have we made our standards God’s standards and our ways His ways? Have we allowed our pride to blind our hearts and eyes from seeing the Truth? Although our mouths may not have forsaken the Lord, perhaps our hearts have. When our actions no longer reflect what we once professed to believe then we have forsaken our God. When our words are used to hurt, humiliate, judge, and condemn then we have forsaken our God. When our thoughts are used to plot against others or when they are used to objectify our brothers and sisters, then we have forsaken our God. When we have forsaken God we have also forsaken ourselves for all that we are and is comes from Him.

Not only have we forsaken God and ourselves but have made ourselves gods. God is our cistern, the source of our living waters, the source of our life. When we choose to not love our brothers and sisters, we choose to leave and cut off that source of life, and we dig for ourselves a new source, a source that does not really provide. We have become like cracked cisterns, no longer able to hold water, closed off to receiving the graces God wishes to give to us. May we today choose to return to the source of our life, our God who made us and fashioned us. We were not made cracked or broken; we were made beautiful and for greatness. May we allow ourselves to be open to whatever God has in store for us, trusting that it is the best plan for our lives.