Our Main Sponsor

Thursday, June 20, 2024

HIDDEN TREASURES - One Bread, One Body, 06/21/2024

Friday, June 21, 2024, St. Aloysius Gonzaga

2 Kings 11:1-4, 9-18, 20
Psalm 132:11-14, 17-18
Matthew 6:19-23

View Readings

HIDDEN TREASURES
"For six years he remained hidden in the temple of the Lord."—2 Kings 11:3

The child-king of Judah, baby Joash, was “hidden” in safety in the Temple, “concealed” from the murderous queen Athaliah (2 Kgs 11:2-3). This child-king foreshadows Jesus, another Child-King, Who was hidden in Egypt from the murderous King Herod (Mt 2:13ff). Ultimately, Jesus lived for thirty years hidden from the public eye. Jesus is still “hidden,” in the Tabernacle inside a Catholic Church near you. He is hidden in plain sight, available to anyone who seeks Him with open eyes and an open heart.

Jesus speaks of another hidden treasure, buried in a field (Mt 13:44). Heavenly treasures are hidden from view, but revealed to those who search for them. So it is with the heavenly treasures which Jesus urges us to “store up” (Mt 6:20). With them we are rich, but to those in the world, who cannot see spiritual treasures (see 1 Cor 2:14), it seems we have nothing (see 2 Cor 6:10).

The most important Treasure is Jesus Himself. Jesus, our King and our Treasure, is often hidden. However, Jesus is not hidden from us; He is hidden for us. He wants us to seek Him and find Him. The price to find Jesus is expensive; He costs our “all” (Mt 13:44). However, everyone has an “all,” so everyone can afford to make Jesus their Treasure.

When we truly make Jesus our Treasure, that is where our heart is firmly set (Mt 6:21). No one can see our heavenly Treasure, but also no one can separate us from this Treasure (see Rm 8:35-39).



Prayer: Father, thank You for not hiding Jesus from me. Give me the grace to turn "ten times the more to seek Him" (Bar 4:28).

Promise: "Remember, where your Treasure is, there your heart is also." —Mt 6:21

Praise: St. Aloysius wrote: God "invites me to the infinite bliss I have sought so languidly, and promises me this reward for the tears I have so seldom shed.

(This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Rescript: In accord with the "Code of Canon Law", I hereby grant the "Nihil Obstat" ("Permission to Publish") for "One Bread, One Body."

"In accord with the Code of Canon Law, I hereby grant the Nihil Obstat for the publication One Bread, One Body covering the time period from June 1, 2024, through July 31, 2024. Reverend Steve J. Angi, Chancellor, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio October 4, 2023"

The Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

You can find One Bread, One Body archives, the letter to readers, OBOB eBook edition, and an online donation form at http://www.presentationministries.com/series/obob

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Copyright © Presentation Ministries

To add your e-mail address to this list go to https://www.presentationministries.com/subscribe/email

To remove your e-mail address from this list, click here..

No comments:

Post a Comment