Dear Friend and Gentle Reader,
"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."
"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 he has and buys it."
In both parables both men appreciate the true value of what they have discovered. Both men are certain about the wisdom of what they must do and are willing to put everything on the line to secure their newfound treasure.
Today Jesus is asking us to determine how much we treasure the Kingdom of Heaven. How valuable is Heaven to us and what are we prepared to do to secure it? Are we prepared to give all we've got and to renounce everything that gets in the way? If the two men in the parables had passed their treasure by or failed to recognise the treasure's value, we would have thought them insane, yet this is how we behave all the time.
All too often we are prepared to let the Kingdom of Heaven slip through our fingers. Perhaps we do this because we have never stopped to reflect on how valuable the Kingdom of Heaven is. Perhaps we have recognised the value of God's Kingdom to us but have forgotten it in the day-to-day distractions of putting meals on the table and paying the bills.
Perhaps heaven's rewards seem so distant that we prefer instead to work for more immediate and tangible rewards .... , home improvements, fame, social acceptance and career development. Perhaps we think we can work on God's agenda and our own agenda simultaneously, recognising the value of God's Kingdom but not quite able to renounce our own self-interest. Jesus gives us some concrete advice. He tells us that those who study the scriptures and search diligently will find the discernment to recognise God's treasure and the wisdom to secure it.
Canon Jerry
Please remember in your
prayers the sick in our parish,
especially June Dolan.
For District Hospital Chaplain Fr David Fox. - Tel 631313 and switchboard will bleep him.
Pope Benedict's Prayer Intention for July "On Volunteering."
On volunteering, Pope Benedict writes, "The willingness to take up volunteer work can have various motivations. Frequently it is simply from of a desire to do something meaningful and helpful, and out of a desire for new experiences. Young people rightly and naturally also discover in volunteer work a source of joy, positive experiences and genuine camaraderie in carrying out a worthwhile project alongside others. Often these personal ideas and initiatives are linked to a practical love of neighbour; the individual thus becomes part of a wider community of support. A readiness to be at the service of others is something which surpasses the calculus of outlay and return: it shatters the rules of a market economy. The value of human beings cannot be judged by purely economic criteria. Without volunteers, then, no state can be built up. A society's progress and worth constantly depend on people who do more than what is strictly their duty.'
We are invited to join Pope Benedict's prayer intention for July, "....That there may be an increase in the number of those who volunteer to serve the Christian community with generous and prompt availability."
And now, Lord, ... help your servants, here at St Aelred's, to proclaim your message with all fearlessness, by stretching out your hand to heal and to work miracles and marvels through the name of your holy servant Jesus.' Amen
A DAILY PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS TO THE PRIESTHOOD AND THE RELIGIOUS LIFE
Most holy Spirit. we ask you today to awaken in many generous young hearts a deep desire to love and
serve Christ and their sisters and brothers in the priesthood or as religious.
Help them to give themselves without reserve and to prepare themselves well so that their service may be whole hearted, loving, joyous, generous and persevering.
May all their ambitions be rooted in the desire to make the most Holy Trinity better known and loved by all people.This we ask of you and the Father through Christ Our Lord. Amen
Our Lady of Perpetual help
St Wilfrid of York: St John of Beverley, St Margaret Clitheroe,
Pray for us