17TH WEDNESDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Gospel (Matthew 13:44-46) - THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

“When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it.” (Mt 13:46)

FIRST READING - Ex 34:29-35

"The Israelites saw Moses, his face was radiant, and they were afraid to come near him."

A reading from the Book of Exodus

²⁹ When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the covenant law in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord. ³⁰ When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, his face was radiant, and they were afraid to come near him. ³¹ But Moses called to them; so Aaron and all the leaders of the community came back to him, and he spoke to them. ³² Afterward all the Israelites came near him, and he gave them all the commands the Lord had given him on Mount Sinai.

³³ When Moses finished speaking to them, he put a veil over his face. ³⁴ But whenever he entered the Lord’s presence to speak with him, he removed the veil until he came out. And when he came out and told the Israelites what he had been commanded, ³⁵ they saw that his face was radiant. Then Moses would put the veil back over his face until he went in to speak with the Lord.

GOSPEL OF THE DAY - Mt 13:44-46

"He went and sold all he had and bought that field."

✠From the Gospel according to Matthew

⁴⁴ “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.

⁴⁵ “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. ⁴⁶ When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.

17TH WEDNESDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Gospel (Matthew 13:44-46)

THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

Dear People of God,

The Word of God in today's Gospel, Jesus taught His disciples two parables: The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field, and The Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant in search of a fine pearl.

The Kingdom of Heaven is a place of eternal happiness, the most noble place, and the final destination that people have always longed to find. It is where the loving God the Father, dwells— the happiest place, where He patiently waits for people to return to Him at the end of their earthly life.

Today's Gospel tells us that Jesus is God. He came to earth to teach people about the Kingdom of Heaven, using familiar images from daily life to describe it. He compared the Kingdom of Heaven to a hidden treasure and to the most precious pearls, things everyone desires to find and possess. He urged all people to seek the Kingdom of Heaven rather than pursue the fleeting things of this world. Only in the Kingdom of Heaven can we find true happiness, lasting peace, and eternal life.

Let's sell all your worldly possessions to purchase the greatest treasure that is the Kingdom of Heaven, where God dwells—for to have God is to have everything, and to possess the Kingdom of Heaven is to possess life itself. He invites everyone to set out in search of that treasure and then of that precious pearl. Trade everything, even your own life, to gain the Kingdom of Heaven, for only there can one find eternal happiness with God the Father.

Thanks be to God. Amen.

19:00 July 30th, 2025 - Prayer of Divine Mercy - The Way to Heaven