I found a treasure! Really????

August 1, 2012  Jeremiah 15:10, 16-21;  Matthew 13:44-46

Yesterday’s news announced two lottery winners … they are millionaires today … their lives have been changed.

Finding … winning … coming upon treasure can turn a life around … somewhat of a conversion experience.

We heard about treasure in today’s readings.

After all his moaning and groaning … all his “woe” is me lament … Jeremiah rediscovers the treasure he has been given as the spokesperson of God.  God speaks to Jeremiah and calls him back to renewal of his call … his life gets turned around as he returns to God’s service.

In today’s Gospel … Jesus says the Kingdom of Heaven is a treasure.  In fact … this treasure is so great … that … once found … no sacrifice or resource would be overlooked in obtaining it.  The man sells everything to buy the field with the hidden treasure.  The merchant sells off all he has to buy the perfect pearl.  Their lives were tuned around by the discovery of the treasure.

So … what about us?  If we want to turn our lives around … to possess the Kingdom of God … we need to direct our efforts at doing everything we can to gain that treasure.

Through God’s grace and our efforts and struggles … may our focus be on obtaining the treasure of God’s Kingdom.

Go spel it out May 11th

May 11, 2012  Acts 15: 22-31;  John 15: 12-17

Jesus delivers a crystal clear message to His disciples in today’s Gospel … Love one another!  This offers us a clear command and a considerable challenge.

In the first reading … we see how the early Christian community struggled with putting this message into practice.  How to include non-Jewish Christians into the early Church caused dissention.

It was this situation that Peter, Paul and other leaders of the early Church has to address.  Guided by the Holy Spirit … the solution was not to impose Mosaic Law upon Gentile believers … and the decisions of the leaders followed the law of love.

Jesus teaches that we are His friends … if … we do what He commands.

Love on another … is still the message.

This is true whether it deals with large and global issues … or with personal issues.

The challenge for us … is knowing how to apply that command in this day and age.

As friends and followers of Jesus … may we live what He taught.