Wednasday July 29, 2009 of the 17th Week in Ordinary Time

Readings: Exodus 34: 29-35 Psalm 99: 5-9 Matthew 13: 44-46
Psalm Response: " Holy is the Lord our God"

We don't witness the aura surrounding the saints of our time as the Israelites saw Moses' face radiant with the joy of having been in the presence of God. Perhaps the visions, of a halo depicting a saintly face by the artists, were an inspiration they received from the Holy Spirit to show the holiness of God's chosen ones. Even those artists who were agnostic could have been urged by God to show their spirituality, even though they didn't recognize it in themselves.
We are the artists of today. God grants us the ability to see holiness in others who can't see it in themselves. By their example, we are able to honor God in ways we would have disdained in the past.

We are enjoined by the words of the psalmist to be cogniscent of His presence even when we are off in daydreamland. We are, by our Baptism, both priest and prophet. Not in the sense of being able to consecrate the sacred species but able to impart to others, by our example the proper attitude of reverence and honor.

Comparing the Kingdom of Heaven with a buried treasure or a rare pearl is Christ's way of urging us to place no barrier to our final goal. Nothing should stant in the way. Niether wealth, power or prestige should be our goal. Christ tells us to seek "first" the Kingdom of God and all these things will be added unto us!