Letters From Home

The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Wednesday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time by Dr. John Bergsma.

Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com

The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for the Memorial of St. Alphonsus Liguori by Dr. Shane Owens.

Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com

The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for the Memorial of St. Ignatius of Loyola by Dr. Scott Hahn.

Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com

Readings
1 Kings 3:5, 7–12
Psalm 119:57, 72, 76–77, 127–130
Romans 8:28–30
Matthew 13:44–52

What is your new life in Christ worth to you?

Do you love His words more than gold and silver, as we sing in today’s Psalm? Would you, like the characters in the Gospel today, sell all that you have in order to possess the kingdom He promises to us? If God were to grant any wish, would you follow Solomon’s example in today’s First Reading—asking not for a long life or riches but for wisdom to know God’s ways and to desire His will?

The background for today’s Gospel, as it has been for the past several weeks, is the rejection of Jesus’ preaching by Israel. The kingdom of heaven has come into their midst; yet, many cannot see that Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s promises, a gift of divine compassion given so that they—and we—might live.

We, too, must ever discover the kingdom anew. We are called to find it as a treasure, a pearl of great price. By comparison with the kingdom, we must count all else as rubbish (see Philippians 3:8). And we must be willing to give up all that we have—all our priorities and plans—in order to gain it.

Jesus’ Gospel discloses what Paul in today’s Epistle calls the purpose of God’s plan (see Ephesians 1:4): for Jesus be the firstborn of many brothers.

His words give understanding to the simple, the childlike. As Solomon does today, we must humble ourselves before God, giving ourselves to His service. Let our prayer be for an understanding heart, one that desires only to do His will.

We are called to love God, to delight in His law, and to forsake every false way. And we are to conform ourselves daily ever more closely to the image of His Son.

If we do this, we can approach His altar as a pleasing sacrifice, confident that all things work for the good—that we whom He has justified will also be glorified.

Lecturas:
1 Reyes 3,5. 7–12
Salmo 119,57.72.76–77.127–130
Romanos 8,28–30
Mateo 13, 44–52

¿Cuánto vale para ti tu nueva vida en Cristo?

¿Amas sus palabras más que el oro y la plata, como cantamos en el salmo de esta semana? ¿Venderías todo lo que tienes para poseer el reino que Él promete, como los personajes del Evangelio de este domingo?

¿Si Dios te concediera cualquier deseo, seguirías el ejemplo de Salomón en la primera lectura, quien no pidió una larga vida o riquezas, sino sabiduría para conocer los caminos de Dios y desear su voluntad?

El trasfondo del Evangelio de este domingo, como lo ha sido las semanas anteriores, es el rechazo de Israel a la predicación de Jesús. El reino del cielo ha llegado en medio de ellos. Sin embargo, muchos no pueden ver que Jesús es el cumplimiento de la promesa de Dios; que es un regalo de la compasión divina, dado para que ellos—y nosotros también—puedan vivir.

También nosotros debemos descubrir el reino nuevamente, para encontrarlo como un tesoro, como perla de gran valor. En comparación con el reino, necesitamos considerar basura todo lo demás (cf. Flp 3,8).

Y debemos estar dispuestos a dejar todo lo que tenemos—todas nuestras prioridades y planes—a fin de ganarlo. El Evangelio de Jesús revela lo que San Pablo, en la epístola de esta semana, llama el designio de Dios (cf. Ef 1,4) . Ese designio es que Jesús sea el primogénito de muchos hermanos.

Sus palabras dan entendimiento a los sencillos, a los que son como niños. Como Salomón en la lectura de esta semana, debemos humillarnos ante Dios, entregándonos a su servicio. Pidamos en nuestra oración un corazón sabio, que desee solamente hacer su voluntad.

Estamos llamados a amar a Dios, a deleitarnos en su Ley y a abandonar todo camino falso. Y debemos conformarnos cada vez más a la imagen de Su Hijo.

Si hacemos esto, podemos acercarnos a Su altar como sacrificio agradable, confiados en que todo contribuye para bien; seguros de que los que hemos sido justificados por Él, seremos también glorificados un día.

The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for the Memorial of Sts. Martha, Mary, and Lazarus by Mr. Clement Harrold.

Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com

The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Friday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time by Dr. John Bergsma.

Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com

The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Thursday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time by Ms. Joan Watson.

Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com

The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for the Memorial of Sts. Joachim and Anne by Dr. John Bergsma.

Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com

The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for the Feast of St. James by Dr. Shane Owens.

Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com