Wednesday of the Seventeenth week in Ordinary Time 31 July 2013
St. Ignatius of Loyola, Priest (1491-1556)
Exodus 34:29-35.
As Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the commandments in his hands, he did not know that the skin of his face had become radiant while he conversed with the LORD.
When Aaron, then, and the other Israelites saw Moses and noticed how radiant the skin of his face had become, they were afraid to come near him.
Only after Moses called to them did Aaron and all the rulers of the community come back to him. Moses then spoke to them.
Later on, all the Israelites came up to him, and he enjoined on them all that the LORD had told him on Mount Sinai.
When he finished speaking with them, he put a veil over his face.
Whenever Moses entered the presence of the LORD to converse with him, he removed the veil until he came out again. On coming out, he would tell the Israelites all that had been commanded.
Then the Israelites would see that the skin of Moses' face was radiant; so he would again put the veil over his face until he went in to converse with the LORD.
When Aaron, then, and the other Israelites saw Moses and noticed how radiant the skin of his face had become, they were afraid to come near him.
Only after Moses called to them did Aaron and all the rulers of the community come back to him. Moses then spoke to them.
Later on, all the Israelites came up to him, and he enjoined on them all that the LORD had told him on Mount Sinai.
When he finished speaking with them, he put a veil over his face.
Whenever Moses entered the presence of the LORD to converse with him, he removed the veil until he came out again. On coming out, he would tell the Israelites all that had been commanded.
Then the Israelites would see that the skin of Moses' face was radiant; so he would again put the veil over his face until he went in to converse with the LORD.
Ps 99(98):5.6.7.9.
Extol the LORD, our God,
and worship at his footstool;
holy is he!
Moses and Aaron were among his priests,
and Samuel, among those who called upon his name;
they called upon the LORD, and he answered them.
From the pillar of cloud he spoke to them;
they heard his decrees and the law he gave them.
Extol the LORD, our God,
and worship at his holy mountain;
for holy is the LORD, our God.
Matt 13:44-46.
and worship at his footstool;
holy is he!
Moses and Aaron were among his priests,
and Samuel, among those who called upon his name;
they called upon the LORD, and he answered them.
From the pillar of cloud he spoke to them;
they heard his decrees and the law he gave them.
Extol the LORD, our God,
and worship at his holy mountain;
for holy is the LORD, our God.
Matt 13:44-46.
Jesus said to his disciples: “The Kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again, and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls.
When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it".
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls.
When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it".
Commentary of the day :
Saint John Chrysostom (c.345-407), priest at Antioch then Bishop of Constantinople, Doctor of the Church
Homilies on Saint Matthew's Gospel, no.47, 2
The two parables of the treasure and the pearl both teach us the same thing: that we should prefer the Gospel before all earthly treasures... However, there is something even more praiseworthy than this: that we should delight to give it preference, joyfully, unhesitatingly. Let us never forget this: to abandon all else so as to follow God is to gain more than one loses. The preaching of the Gospel is hidden in this world like a hidden treasure, a treasure without price.
To gain this treasure... two conditions are required: the forsaking of this world's goods and a firm determination. For it is a question “of a merchant searching for fine pearls.
When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it". This one pearl is truth and truth is one, it is not divided. Do you possess a pearl? Then you know your wealth: it is clenched in the palm of your hand; no one is aware of your fortune. So it is with the Gospel: if you embrace it with faith, if it remains enclosed in your heart, what a treasure you have! You alone know it is there. Unbelievers, who know neither what it is nor what value it has, have no idea of your incredible wealth.
To gain this treasure... two conditions are required: the forsaking of this world's goods and a firm determination. For it is a question “of a merchant searching for fine pearls.
When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it". This one pearl is truth and truth is one, it is not divided. Do you possess a pearl? Then you know your wealth: it is clenched in the palm of your hand; no one is aware of your fortune. So it is with the Gospel: if you embrace it with faith, if it remains enclosed in your heart, what a treasure you have! You alone know it is there. Unbelievers, who know neither what it is nor what value it has, have no idea of your incredible wealth.
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