Happy Pioneer Days!
Happy Pioneer Days!
Happy Pioneer Days!
Happy Pioneer Days! It is a time of family gathering and celebration in Butternut and neighboring communities. The following week is Park Falls Flambeau Rama. It is a joyful moment for me to see so many families and friends of the area coming back to these towns for celebration. At the same time, my joy is doubled because my ordination anniversary is also during this time. I remember, when I came to this cluster in 2012, my 10th Ordination Anniversary was celebrated on Pioneer Day. July 29 is my Ordination anniversary. I take this opportunity to give thanks to God for the gift of the Priesthood and for guiding me every step of my life. Also, I would like to express my gratitude to all those who supported me in my priestly life.
This is the third Sunday we are listening to the Gospel of Matthew chapter 13 parables. This weekend's Gospel (Matthew 13:44-52) addresses how to attain the kingdom.
A couple of years ago, I read a story about the Pink Diamond of Tanzania. Dr. Williamson was a geologist doing some archeological excavation work in Tanzania. One day he found himself driving in a deserted area, slipping and sliding along a rain-soaked road. Suddenly his four-wheel-drive vehicle sank up to its axles in the mud and got stuck. Pulling out his shovel, Dr. Williamson began the unpleasant task of digging the car out of a mud hole. He had been at it for a while when his shovel uncovered something strange. It was a pinkish stone of some sort. Being a geologist and naturally curious about rock formations, he picked it up and wiped away the mud. The more mud he removed, the more excited he became, and he could hardly believe what he saw. When the stone was finally clean, Dr. Williamson was beside himself with joy. He had discovered the diamond which became known as the famous Pink Diamond of Tanzania and is now set in the royal scepter of Great Britain. In today’s two parables, Jesus tells of two other men who unexpectedly discovered treasures.
Jesus is trying to sell us a great treasure. I don’t know how many of us are going to buy it. In the Gospel, Jesus invites us to inherit the Kingdom of heaven: through the three parables which say that the kingdom of heaven is like: a treasure hidden in the field, a merchant who searches for the fine pearls, a net which was thrown into the sea and collects all kind of fish and to separate the good ones. The first two parables talk about hidden treasure and great value.
In these parables, Jesus reminds us that there is a sacrifice involved to attain the kingdom. The person in the parable, “out of joy” sells all his assets in order to acquire the treasure. Catechism of the Catholic Church 546 states that “Jesus' invitation to enter his kingdom comes in the form of parables, a characteristic feature of his teaching. Through his parables, he invites people to the feast of the kingdom, but he also asks for a radical choice: to gain the kingdom, one must give everything. Words are not enough, deeds are required. The parables are like mirrors for man: will he be hard soil or good earth for the word? What use has he made of the talents he has received? Jesus and the presence of the kingdom in this world are secretly at the heart of the parables. One must enter the kingdom, that is, become a disciple of Christ, in order to "know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven". For those who stay "outside", everything remains enigmatic."
We can arrive at the kingdom of heaven through a deliberate, self-committed search. God gave us sacraments and other devotions to help this search. In this search, going to Mass, keeping the Ten Commandments, other devotions, and loving God, and neighbors has become part of our life. The gospel tells us that the kingdom belongs to the “righteous” like St. Joseph (Matthew 1:19), and other saints by resisting evil, (13:43), and as Jesus’ prophesy of the Last Judgement says, “when you did it to the one of the least of these brethren, you did to me” 25:40. When we leave this world, we will leave most of the treasures here, but we will take with us our love for God and others.
Another aspect of this parable is to meditate that God gave us the gift ourselves. He made us as his adopted children through the greatest gifts of Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist. We need to discover true treasures in our life and use it for the glory of God. Holy Spirit give us guidance in this search, and let us turn to him each day.