On the Parable of the Treasure

From  
Meditations on the Life of Our Lord 
by J. Nouet, S.J.


Sixteenth Week After Pentecost - Saturday

1st Point. "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil treasure bringeth forth that which is evil.  For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh." (Luke, vi. 45) In these texts our Lord teaches the obligation of mingling spiritual discourse in ordinary conversations.  He says of himself: "For this was I born, and for this I came into the world, that I should give testimony to the truth." (John, xviii. 37) You also have received existence, were made a member of the church, or called to the holy state of religion, to "gif testimony of the truth."  Vain or frivolous conversation is unseemly in a religious, who is consecrated to the service of God.  In the religious all should breathe sanctity, even to the last word.

2nd Point. The love of Jesus Christ is an additional motive that impels the religious to converse frequently on spiritual matters.  Those who love him, love to speak to him and of him, to listen to his divine voice, and make him the subject of their conversation.  "For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain." (Phil., i. 21)  This is the outpouring of a heart that loves Jesus Christ with ardour, and burns with zeal for the glory of his name.  You should desire to attract all hearts to this amiable master, and endeavour to enkindle around you the fire of his love.

3rd Point. Another motive for loving spiritual conversation, is found in the invitation of Jesus Christ, and his promise to those who faithfully respond.  Listen to his invitation: "Open to me, thou my sister, my dove, my perfect one.  Open to me, announce me, speak of me to those who have closed their hearts against me.  For how can I enter, unless some one open to me the door?"  Meditate also his promise: "Where there are two or three gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. " (Matt., xviii. 20)  This is effectively proved in the disciples journeying to Emmaus: "Was not our heart burning within us, whilst he spoke in the way?" (Luke, xxiv. 32)  Where Jesus is, there is peace, joy, and slavation.  Is not his presence an anticipated heaven?

On Jesus being despised in his own country

From  
Meditations on the Life of Our Lord 
by J. Nouet, S.J.


Seventeenth Sunday After Pentecost

1st Point. "And Jesus said to them: A prophet is not without honor, but in his own country, and in his own house, and among his own kindred.  And he could not do any miracles there, only that he cured a few that were sick, laying his hands upon them." (Mark, vi. 4, 5)  Blindness and incredulity were the effects of the envy the Nazarenes bore to Jesus Christ.  The envious man is blind, he imagines that which is not, whilst his eyes are closed to truth.  If the virtues of a brother are applauded in his presence, he maintains a cold silence, or insinuates some suspicion.  These rash judgments proceed from pride.  The envious man would be above all; and not being able to attain this end by other means, he endeavours to raise himself by judging his neighbour — an assumption of superiority.

2nd Point.  Calumny was another effect of the envy of these Jews.  Between vices and virtues there is a certain exterior similarity.  Prodigality assumes the appearance of generosity: hypocrisy wears the semblance of devotion.  Two classes of persons abuse this resemblance, that is, flatterers, and the envious.  The former give the name of virtue to the vices of those from whom they seek advantage; the latter obscure the lustre of virtue by attributing to it the character of vice, in order to destroy the reputation of a brother.  Jesus Christ healed strangers and not the Nazarenes, because grace is given, not to a country, but to the disposition of the suppliants.  The gifts of God are for those who watch and labour for their salvation.

3rd Point. "And all they in the synagogue, hearing these things, were filled with anger.  And they rose up and thrust him out of the city: and they brought him to the brow of the hill, whereon the city was built, that they might cast him down headlong." (Luke, iv. 28, 29)  Injustice, to which they are stimulated by anger and indignation, is a third effect of the envy of the Jews.  This vice extinguishes faith, multiplies calumnies and violates justice.  There is nothing more unjust than envy, because it makes a brother's good the object of hatred:  nothing, at the same time, more just, for it constitutes its own punishment.  Humility and charity are the remedy for this dangerous evil.  Be humble, conceal yourself from the eyes of the world, seek not the favour of men, and you will not repine at their prosperity.  Be charitable, love your neighbour as yourself:  make his happiness your own, and enrich yourself by enjoying his prosperity.

On the parable of the Pearl and the Net cast into the Sea

From  
Meditations on the Life of Our Lord 
by J. Nouet, S.J.


Sixteenth Week After Pentecost - Friday

1st Point. "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like to a merchant seeking good pearls." (Matt, xiii. 45)

This precious pearl is the knowledge of Jesus Christ — the knowledge of the Saviour, the mystery of his passion, and the secret of his resurrection.  Again, the pearl is the love of Jesus Christ — the precious pearl, without which all other treasures are worthless, whilst the possession of this alone fully satisfies every desire of the human heart.  Let your spirit resemble refined gold by the fervour of charity, and the practice of the most exalted virtues, in order that it may be worthy to enshrine the evangelic pearl.

2nd Point. "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like to a merchant seeking good pearls. Who, when he had found pearl of great price, went his way, and sold all that he had, and bought it." (Matt., xiii.45, 46) The great occupation of a Christian is to seek the precious pearl of the gospel, and purchase it at any price whatsoever.  Did you understand its value you would make no difficulty of renouncing all things for gaining it.  His is a wise merchant who exchanges that which he cannot long enjoy for a treasure including all that can be desired, and one beyond the vicissitudes and accidents to which temporal possessions are subject.  It suffices not to give all for the possession of Jesus Christ; you should, moreover, give it joyfully, that whatever you give, you will always gain infinitely more.

3rd Point. "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like to a net cast into the sea, and gathering together of all kind of fishes.  Which, when it was filled, they drew out, and sitting by the shore, they chose out the good into vessels, but the bad they cast forth.  So shall it be at the end of the world." (Matt., xiii. 47, 48, 49)  The religious state affords a peculiar facility to find and preserve the evangelic pearl, that is, the knowledge and love of Jesus Christ.  The worldly man has neither leisure nor opportunity to acquire the knowledge and love.  There are, indeed, saints in every state in the Church, who know and love Jesus Christ with their whole heart; but he warns us in the parable that in his Church there are both good and bad. "So shall it be at the end of the world.  The angels shall go out, and shall separate the wicked from among the just, and shall cast them into the furnace of fire; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (Matt., xiii. 49, 50)  Labour now with vigilance, seeking the precious pearl of the love of Jesus, that on the day of final retribution you may enter into the peace and joy of the blessed.

On the Parable of the Treasure

From  
Meditations on the Life of Our Lord 
by J. Nouet, S.J.


Sixteenth Week After Pentecost - Thursday

1st Point.  "The kingdom of heaven is like unto a treasure hidden in a field." (Matt.  xiii.44)  Jesus Christ is the treasure in which your heart should centre, his knowledge and love constitute your spiritual riches.  Holy Scripture is the field wherein is found this rich treasure, that is to say, Jesus Christ.  But there is a treasure hidden, "man knoweth not the price thereof.  Neither is it found in the land of them that live in delights." (Job xxviii. 13)  It is found in the cross, in the Blessed Sacrament, and in heaven.

2nd Point. "The kingdom of heaven is like unto a treasure hidden in the field, which a man having found, hid, and for joy thereof, goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field." (Matt. xiii. 44) What should you not give to own the treasure hidden in the cross, in the Blessed Sacrament, in heaven, and in the hearts of Jesus and Mary.  No one has a right to possess this treasure except by purchase.  Heavenly riches can be acquired only by renouncing whatever the world holds valuable.  Did you understand this, you would sacrifice all, not only without difficulty, but with joy.  Love Jesus Christ and you shall experience a joy more pure and solid than the wicked possess in all the false delights of this world.

3rd Point. Once you have discovered and purchased this treasure, wisdom and humility require that you hide it anew.  If you are wise, guard it with extreme care. If you are obliged to tell your neighbour the lights and graces of heaven with which you have been enriched, you should purify your intention, satisfied the God beholds, and prepares for you a great recompense.  "Deal with thy servant according to thy mercy, and teach me thy justifications."

On the Parable of the Mustard Seed

From  
Meditations on the Life of Our Lord 
by J. Nouet, S.J.


Sixteenth Week After Pentecost - Wednesday

1st Point. "Another parable he proposed unto them, saysing: The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed." (Matt. xiii. 31) Faith, which is called the kingdom of God, resembles the mustard seed, its virtue becomes sensible only when it is bruised. Faith shines forth most powerfully in the saints when under sufferings and persecution. Faith will increase the fervour with which you adhere to the doctrine of the church, and your esteem for the gospel maxims; regulating your life by its principles. This favour should be the subject of your prayer, both for yourself and the church in general. "Lord, increase our faith." (Luke xvii. 5) "I do believe, Lord, help my unbelief".

2nd Point. The church, which is also called the kingdom of God, resembles the mustard seed: because from the humbles commencement she has so increased as to surpass the greatest empires in extent and duration.  The grace of Christianity has subdued many nations to the cross of Jesus Christ.  All the empires of the earth shall at length perish; but the kingdom of Jesus Christ is the kingdom of all ages, the kingdom of eternity.  "Blessed are they that dwell in thy house, O Lord, they shall praise thee for ever and ever." (Ps. lxxxiii. 5.)

3rd Point. Jesus Christ with the saints who compose his kingdom, are compared to the mustard seed, because of their humility.  By virtue of humility the lowliest upon earth become the most elevated in heaven.  Jesus Christ, in his birth, was abject as the mustard seed, but in his ascension was exalted as the towering cedar.  His branches are extended even to the ends of the earth.  The birds of heaven, that is, all the predestinate, repose under his shadow, and are nourished with his fruits.  He was the mustard seed in His incarnation, and being bruised in His passion, communicates his virtue to all our spiritual actions.

God's Plan for America

So, you think the nation is in a bad state?
You call yourself a Christian?
By all means, vote your conscience in November - BUT, politics is not the answer.

It is up to every one of us who call ourselves Christian to turn this nation around - and God tells us how.
"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then

will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14

Seek God, seek personal holiness - not a holier-than-thou attitude, but seek to be truly godly; and it can only happen if you actually seek God and ask for the grace to become holy.

• Humble yourself
• Pray
• Seek His face
• Turn from your wicked ways

If every one of us who calls himself or herself Christian would do that - regardless of your denomination or church - if we would each seek Him within the particular tradition in which He's placed us -

THIS
NATION
WOULD
TURN
AROUND
O V E R N I G H T.

Politics is not the answer.
Yes, we should do our civic duty - we must render unto Caesar.
BUT, unless we are involve with government, we owe politics nothing more.
The change will come from outside the government, outside politics.
Change

society.
We must work to make this a Culture of Love - of Christ's love - Agape, philia.
Greed, avarice, corruption, hatred, discrimination - name any factor that you wish to characterize the brokenness of the nation - these are all creatures of darkness.
BUT, we are the light of the world. Christ, the light who shines through us, will expose and eliminate the darkness.
The more of us who live that light, the more of us who actually show ourselves to be Christians by our lives (not just our words), the more that darkness will be eliminated.

St. Rose of Lima on Grace from Tribulation

Today our Dominican family celebrates the memorial of St. Rose of Lima (1586-1617). She was the first canonized saint of the Western hemisphere, a contemporary of St. Martin DePorres and Saint John Macias, and “patron saint of Lima, Peru, all the Americas, the Phillippines, India, florists, gardeners, and people ridiculed for their piety”.

 

The Office of Readings today offers this excerpt from her writings for our fruitful meditation and response:

 
Our Lord and Savior lifted up his voice and said with incomparable majesty: “Let all men know that grace comes after tribulation. Let them know that without the burden of afflictions it is impossible to reach the height of grace. Let them know that the gifts of grace increase as the struggles increase. Let men take care not to stray and be deceived. This is the only true stairway to paradise, and without the cross they can find no road to climb to heaven.”

When I heard these words, a strong force came upon me and seemed to place me in the middle of a street, so that I might say in a loud voice to people of every age, sex and status: “Hear, O people; hear, O nations. I am warning you about the commandment of Christ by using words that came from his own lips: We cannot obtain grace unless we suffer afflictions. We must heap trouble upon trouble to attain a deep participation in the divine nature, the glory of the sons of God and perfect happiness of soul.”

That same force strongly urged me to proclaim the beauty of divine grace. It pressed me so that my breath came slow and forced me to sweat and pant. I felt as if my soul could no longer be kept in the prison of the body, but that it had burst its chains and was free and alone and was going very swiftly through the whole world saying:

“If only mortals would learn how great it is to possess divine grace, how beautiful, how noble, how precious. How many riches it hides within itself, how many joys and delights! Without doubt they would devote all their care and concern to winning for themselves pains and afflictions. All men throughout the world would seek trouble, infirmities and torments, instead of good fortune, in order to attain the unfathomable treasure of grace. This is the reward and the final gain of patience. No one would complain about his cross or about troubles that may happen to him, if he would come to know the scales on which they are weighed when they are distributed to men.”

                      (Source of image: St. Rose of Lima Parish, Safford, AZ)