Matthew 13:44-52
Meditatio (Reflecting)
Do you understand all these things” They answered, Yes. And he replied, Then every scribe who has been instructed in the kingdom of heaven is like the head of a household who brings from his storeroom both the new and the old.
Oratio (Responding)
When people comment on this passage they often focus on the first 2 analogies, the treasure and the pearl. But there are 4 analogies in this passage, and I contend that all 4 relate to various ways that we come to know the lord. It is not always the same way or sequence of events that bring us to god. Some us are out there searching for an answer to the questions of who we are and how we are created. We dont know exactly what we are looking for, and that is like the man digging for treasure. Some of us know that we are looking for god, but dont what his name is. We bounce from one faith to another, searching for the true faith, and when we find christ, it is like the pearl of great price. Others are squarely in love with christ, but want to understand our faith better, and we go to the storeroom of christian knowledge and pull out the old and the new. Searching through the teachings of the great church fathers as well as the modern day scholars, and finding truth all throughout. But the third example is the most frightening. Those that dont know god, dont search for him, and live their whole lives without ever finding him. At that time, either on our death or at the final judgement…, jesus will cast. a net and draw all souls to him. Our lives will be judged and our lives will be assessed by how much we followed the teachings of christ and his catholic church. Those saints that are caught up in his net will be brought into his kingdom, and the sinners that lived lives of rejection of jesus will be thrown into hell. But for these souls, they will be left completely to the mercy of Jesus and the perfection of his judgement, and not to anything that they did to change their outcome. If I can make a plea to you, this day! I suggest that you do not leave your life to this last moment. Do not gamble your eternity with the hope that you will be saved or by the hollow consolation that “you are good person.” Seek god today, and start a relationship with him. Get to know him now so that when the time comes to be judged, at the end of time, you will know your fate. You do not want to be in the firery furnace of hell, so do what you have to today to assure your place in heaven. Get baptised, if you are not already. Become a catholic, if you are not already. Get to know your lord, and never stop learning. Stay close to him, through the sacraments of confession and the eucharist. But most importantly, like the examples above, when you find the lord, you must give all, to posses him. But if you do these things, then your reward is that you can be assured of your place in heaven and the eternity of joy with the lord in heaven. And that reward is worth more than anything this world can offer.
Contemplatio (Contemplating)
Take time to simply remain in the presence of God.
Resolutio (Resolving)
oh lord, help me to be like that head of house hold that pull from the old and the new. Seeking and studying you, so that I can come to better know you, and ultimately be with you for eternity in heaven.