Today we celebrate 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time.
In the Gospel for this Sunday Jesus said to 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.
Jesus just told us that the kingdom of heaven is like a hidden treasure which a man found in a field. He sold all he had and bought that field.
The Treasure Jesus is talking about is our faith. Faith which makes us members of the kingdom of heaven. The treasure is our faith in Jesus Christ, our belief that He is both God and Man that He saved us on the cross, that He will take us into heaven if we are faithful to Him.
All of us should be like the man in the parable, – ready to “sell†all we have to get the faith and to keep the faith. And practically all of us have this faith. That faith was given to us with little or no effort on our part. But to keep that faith, to nourish and strengthen that faith demands some sacrifice on our part.
For example, some people would prefer golfing on Sunday morning, (or to sleep a little longer, or to go fishing) or to do something else, rather than come to Mass. But some are selling that (extra sleep, that fun of fishing, or golfing), for the treasures of Holy Mass and Holy Communion.
During every Holy Mass Jesus is telling us that we have to do every thing possible on our part to renew our faith, to renew our determination to live our faith in Him. Nothing can stand between us and GOD.
May God bless you and Mary always keeps you in her prayers.