Reflection for Sunday July 30, 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time: Matthew 13:44-52

Gospel: Matthew 13:44-52

(Jesus told 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. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net thrown into the sea, which collects fish of every kind. When it is full they haul it ashore and sit down to put what is good into buckets. 

What is bad they throw away. Thus it will be at the end of the age. The angels will go out and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.

“Do you understand all these things?” They answered, “Yes.” And he replied, “Then every scribe who has been instructed in the kingdom of heaven is like the head of a household who brings from his storeroom both the new and the old.”

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Reflection:

The story is told about a woman who had six children from six different men. She was on the verge of giving up on her life because she was already disowned by her family for the reason of her wayward lifestyle. "She said to herself, “I feel alone because nobody trusts and loves me anymore, but I don’t blame anyone but myself."

While aimlessly walking she saw a sign with these words, If you feel nobody wants you anymore, come to us: We will take care of you. So she went and she found out that it was a shelter for unwanted mothers run by nuns. To make a long story short, the nuns cared for her unconditionally and through them she discovered the unconditional love of Jesus.

Through Jesus and the nuns she found restoration, hope and healing. With gratitude she said to the nuns; you took care of me when nobody else cared. You gave me the unconditional love of Jesus when no one else bothered to give it to me. Through you I found the greatest treasure in this world which is Jesus.

Everyone of us has a purpose and mission in this world. And this is none other than to introduce the greatest treasure in this world which is rarely found by others. This greatest treasure is Jesus. We must take time therefore to know Him and share Him so that others may discover Jesus through us.

How could others discover Jesus through us? We must give hope and have a listening ear instead of condemnation.  We must be forgiving rather than be unforgiving and we must always sow love rather than hatred, judgment and arrogance. – Marino J. Dasmarinas