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Appleton, WI

Homily Connect: July 26

Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, July 26, 2020

1KNGS 3:5, 7-12  | ROM 8: 28-30 |  MT 14: 44-52

Scripture

The LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream at night. God said, “Ask something of me and I will give it to you.”

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.

God’s Invitation – Solomon’s Ask

  • Solomon requests things that matter
  • What would we request?

The Kingdom of Heaven – Buried Treasure

  • Our treasure is the human heart
  • MT 6:21 tells us: Where your treasure is, there will be your heart
  • What is buried within our hearts?

Jesus is the Treasure – the Pearl

  • Are we seeking Jesus?
  • If our hearts don’t have Jesus then we have a fake imitation

Judging Hearts that are Real

  • Before Gospel we hear: May these words be on our minds, spoken from our lips and always treasured in our hearts.

If Jesus is the Pearl, our Lips Should Speak our Living Reflect

  • Kindness, comfort, compassion and mercy
  • Acts of Justice, respect, dignity, and outreach
  • Do I read God’s word each day to keep the pearl close?

Do I Misplace the True Pearl?

  • Are my words hurtful, mean, unkind, spiteful, malicious?
  • Do my actions put up barricades to others?
  • We need to walk the talk of Jesus in real Life
  • We may need to cut ties with things and habits are destructive
  • We need to have a daily conversion of heart
  • MT 6:24 You cannot serve both God and mammon

Today we Celebrate the Most Precious Pearl

  • Jesus in the Word and Eucharist
  • May we always strive to keep Jesus on our minds, spoken from our lips and always treasured in our hearts.

Questions for Reflection

  • What impacted you from today’s Gospel and/or homily?
  • What are things your heart longs for? What would be your request to God?
  • Would others be able to recognize the pearl that is Jesus buried in your heart?
  • What is your biggest struggle with keeping your eye on the true Pearl?

Live Connected

  • Consider daily habits that remind you that Jesus is your greatest treasure such as reading Scripture
  • Monitor your daily thoughts and words, do they reflect the mercy, love and compassion of your heart’s treasure?