St. Ignatius of Loyola, priest 

＊＊＊1st Reading＊＊＊

Exodus 34: 29-35

When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, 

with the two Tablets of the Statement in his hands, he was not aware that the skin of his face was radiant after speaking with Yahweh. Aaron and all the sons of Israel saw that Moses’ face was radiant and they were afraid to go near him. 

But Moses called them, and Aaron with all the leaders of the community drew near, and Moses spoke to them.  Afterwards all the Israelites came near and he told them all that Yahweh had commanded him on Mount Sinai.  When Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil over his face.

Whenever Moses went before Yahweh to speak with him, he took off the veil until he came out again. And when he came out and told them what he had been commanded,  the Israelites saw that his face was radiant. Moses would then replace the veil over his face until he went again to speak with Yahweh.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊

Matthew 13: 44-46

The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field. The one who finds it buries it again; and so happy is he, that he goes and sells everything he has, in order to buy that field.Again the kingdom of heaven is like a trader who is looking for fine pearls.  Once he has found a pearl of exceptional quality, he goes away, sells everything he has and buys it.

 

Reflection gospel：

“THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS LIKE A TREASURE.”

Each of us has those that might be considered of great value or significance, those we regard as our “treasure”. Our “pearl of great price,” such as: a call to do mission, a role in the community, a significant task at work, the family or loved one. All these are accompanied by a profound and, often times, an in explicable sense of joy, and it is common to all of them. Joy is the “one thing” that renders them priceless. We can even forgo of the compensation, reward, or anything in exchange for what we have given out of ourselves.

Joy frees us from other concerns, allowing us to focus only on the “one thing.” To the disciples this one thing is the following of Jesus. And to Jesus the one thing is the reign of God, the bringing of God’s love to all creation. In our case, our one thing could be our work, our mission in the Church. The joy that accompanies it pulls us, so that what we have and what we do become a contribution to the in-breaking of God’s reign. Joy is an indicator; it points us to the good, to a pearl of great price.