In the Gospel of Matthew we hear, "The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy, he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it."
What do these parables teach us? They teach us that something of great worth requires that we separate ourselves from all the other options; and that keeping our options open closes us off from the one thing God wants for us more than anything else. It invites us to be the very best version of ourselves, all that God created us to be.
St. Ignatius of Loyola
On this day, the Church remembers St. Ignatius of Loyola. The founder of the Jesuits was on his way to military fame and fortune when a cannonball shattered his leg. Having seen the Mother of God in a vision, he made a pilgrimage to her shrine at Montserrat near Barcelona, staying for almost a year. It was during this year of conversion that Ignatius began to write down material that later became his greatest work, The Spiritual Exercises.
Jesus calls on us to keep on seeking, to keep on asking, to keep on knocking, like the rich merchant in the second parable. When we are graced by the Lord, because of his initiative toward us and our searching for him, then, like the two men in the parables, we must be ready to give up whatever is necessary to hold on to that grace, that gift of the Lord, the gift of the kingdom.
Living to Glorify God
The motto of the Society of Jesus is: “For the Greater Glory of God.” Saint Paul writes to Corinthians, “Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.” When we live glorifying God, we lose our sense of selfishness, self-centeredness, self-reliance, and self-sufficiency. We move toward God and others, and we let go of competition, comparison, and jealousy.
St. Ignatius introduced his followers to the Examination of Conscience. Each day one examines one’s body, mind, heart, thought, feelings, emotions, and impact. One doesn’t just travel along in time but stops and thinks back. This movement of self-examination is the moment of self-renewal.
What is the vocation of the family—looking to Jesus!
Guest Blogger: Father Arul Raj Gali, C.S.C. — Secretary for the Family Commission in India
- Father Arul's inspirational homily was recorded live during Mass at the Father Peyton Center this morning. You can view the Mass (and Rosary) on the Family Rosary YouTube page.
- To join the Rosary and Mass Livestream, visit the Family Rosary YouTube or Facebook page at 11:30 a.m. Eastern, Monday – Friday. Consider inviting others to join too! (*If you are not a member of Facebook and a signup window appears, simply select the X at the top of the pop-up message and continue to the livestream.)
