July 27th, 2014 - 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time

What beautiful readings we have today!
1st Reading - 1st Book of Kings 3:5, 7-12
Psalm 119
2nd reading - Romans 8:28-30
Gospel - Matthew 13:44-52

Have you ever thought about what you would say if God said He would give you anything you wanted?
Health?  Take care of my family?  Just let me have enough money (how much is enough?)  No worries/problems?  Joy?  Peace?  Love? Happiness?

I did pray for patience once....but then God gave me lots of opportunities to see how patient I was....lol - not a pleasant time in my life!

I don't think I would ever have thought about having an understanding heart to govern your people.  (although - now I do!  Thanks, Solomon!)

Today, as God transforms me, as I grow closer to God, my prayer is simple - Help me be more like you and less like me!  Help me be the person you created me to be!  Help me to love unconditionally!

Psalm 119 - Lord, I love your commands.
This, too, has been a journey.  I didn't always love God's commands.  As a young person, I felt God was too controlling.  I felt His commands were too limiting.  But now I see the wisdom in His commands.  I see the love and mercy in His commands.  Living His commands has helped me to be more like Him and more of who He created me to be.

Romans 8:28 is one of my all-time favorite verses.  Do you ever wonder why bad things happen to innocent people?  I do!  It happened to me.  I couldn't figure out why God would allow this to happen.  It wasn't my fault.  It was devastating.  This verse was explained to me in this way - and I have used it to comfort me in times of pain and suffering often.
We know that all things (He didn't say some things - some of the time) work for good (that means that at sometimes in the future God will use this bad thing and turn it around and use it for something Good!) -
for those who love God and are called according to His purpose.  I do love God and I am here to do His Holy will.  So when bad things happen to me or my loved ones, I trust that MY ALL LOVING GOD has a great plan and will use this for HIS GLORY!!!  I trust in Him!

I had a friend who was a priest once - who helped me understand God's great love for me with the pearl of great price.  I know that God's love for me is the Great pearl.  I should sell all I own in thanksgiving for what Christ has done for me!  I do love Him and I am so grateful, but I admit I take it for granted most days.
Fr. told us to look at us as the pearl.  That Christ gave His live up for us, because we were the pearl of great price.  Just looking at the parable in that light - makes me see how much Jesus does love me!!!

As for the large net and the fish being separated at the end of time.  I just pray that I am selected for heaven!  I pray I stay faithful and that I draw even closer to God for the rest of my life.

What great readings - drawing us closer into the depths of God's great love for us!  How blessed are we!
Have a blessed Liturgy!
Be filled with the Holy Spirit!
Nancy