Wednesday Gospel Webinar Portsmouth Diocese – Formation for Mission

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth. O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations, Through Christ Our Lord, Amen.

Literal meaning Where? Matthew 13 – somewhere in Galilee – into the house When? After having taught parables to the crowds What? Jesus continues to teach his disciples in the house Who? Jesus, disciples How? 3 Parables – the treasure, the pearl, the dragnet Why? Reveals the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven

3 parables The kingdom of heaven is like… A treasure – something more precious than anything else Loss and gain / sacrifice and reward In ‘progress’ – beginning, middle, end Underlying, ultimate reality

Our choice God’s choice The treasure The pearl Recognising what is of value The dragnet Recognising what is of value

Finding God The kingdom of heaven The hidden treasure Sacrifice and Reward Ultimate reality

Finding the human person What is my treasure? What am I ‘losing’ my life for? Is my life directed to an end? Am I taking the means to reach that end? Am I living in the reality of the kingdom of heaven?

Finding the Church Her king Her treasure Her sacrifice Her direction Her means to get there

Mary, Virgin and Mother, you who, moved by the Holy Spirit, welcomed the word of life in the depths of your humble faith: as you gave yourself completely to the Eternal One, help us to say our own “yes” to the urgent call, as pressing as ever, to proclaim the good news of Jesus.   Mother of the living Gospel, wellspring of happiness for God’s little ones, pray for us. Amen. Alleluia.

Acknowledgments Mosaics artworks: © Fr Marko Rupnik and Centro Aletti www.centroaletti.com With gratitude to the Wednesday Word www.wednesdayword.org