I CALL YOU FRIENDS BECAUSE I HAVE MADE KNOWN TO YOU ALL I LEARNT FROM MY FATHER

I CALL YOU FRIENDS BECAUSE I HAVE MADE KNOWN TO YOU ALL I LEARNT FROM MY FATHER

(Wednesday, July 31, 2019 The memorial of St. Ignatius of Loyola, Priest)

The book of Exodus is full of stories of God intervening in the lives of people in a very real way. These events seem supernatural and miraculous at times, but, in reality, these experiences may have been no different from the way God intervenes in our lives today. In today's first reading, when Moses came down from the mountain, "he did not know that the skin of his face was radiant." Aaron and all the Israelites witnessed the change in his appearance. Moses had conversed with God and It changed him perceptibly.

Perhaps this was no more miraculous than the change that comes over most people when they meet God "face to face" in some religious experience or even in daily prayer. All who "meet God face to face" in prayer, on retreat, at a special liturgy, in a traumatic event and so on will change if we let the experience move us. Perhaps the radiance will remain hidden, but the inner glow will eventually seep through, manifested in a peaceful countenance or in a more centered manner. A real God experience motivates a change of heart. The first reading boils down to the saying that no one who encounters God ever remained the same.

Moses encountered God face to face and there was a drastic change in him. What about us? How is our own experience like? In the gospel, the first parable has it that “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy, over it, he goes and sells all that he has and buys the field. The second goes thus: “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.” These two images highlight the priceless treasure – that once recognized – the men go after the treasures with all their energy and wealth. They sell all; they are fully committed to gaining/possessing the treasure or pearl.

There is certainly a lesson here: once we recognize what is most important in life – the “treasure” of finding that the spiritual life is most important...for nourishing relationships with God and all of creation…then put all our energies into nurturing that inner life. That pursuit of finding the treasure and pearl…and then keeping them requires a disciplined life of cutting away all distractions that would hinder the essence of enjoying the treasures.

God indeed is the highest treasure one can find in life because whoever who has God and His word has everything in life and who does not, loses everything. What treasure do we have? How do we share it with others? Here is an opportunity for us to think about the “treasures” we pursue….and why we are pursuing them. We need to take those blessings or treasure we receive from God and share them with those who are not as fortunate as we.

We need to find ways of sharing our “treasures” with others. When we share our treasures with others we stand to gain more. Let us not be too selfish with the gratuitous gifts and talents God endowed us with.

Let Us Pray: Lord Jesus, give me grace as you gave to saint Ignatius of Loyola so that I will use the gifts you have given me for your own glory. Amen.