The Friday after the Festival of the Transfiguration of our Lord
Posted on February 14, 2025 by under
Scripture: St. Matthew 13:44-52 (NKJV)
13:44 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, 46 who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
47 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind, 48 which, when it was full, they drew to shore; and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away. 49 So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, 50 and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”
51 Jesus said to them, “Have you understood all these things?”
They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.”
52 Then He said to them, “Therefore every scribe instructed concerning the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old.”
Devotion
The parable of the treasure hidden in a field lets us know that, as the early Church Fathers taught, there is no salvation outside the Christian Church. Jesus Christ entrusted baptizing and teaching to His Church when He said, “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them…and teaching them…” (Matt. 28:19-20). The prophetic and apostolic message is preached in Christ’s Church. Apart from the Scriptural revelation in Christ’s Church the great treasure of salvation remains hidden.
The parable of the one pearl of great price teaches us that there is nothing more important in all the world than to be saved from your sins by Jesus Christ. At our confirmation we acknowledge the gift given to us in our baptism and profess that we would “suffer all things, even death, rather than fall away from the faith.”
The parable of the dragnet acknowledges that there will be hypocrites who get caught in the dragnet of the preaching of Christ’s Church. Nevertheless, on the Last Day they will be separated from the true believers and cast away.
The parable of the householder explains that faithful pastors in Christ’s Church will show forth the teaching of Jesus Christ from both the Old and the New Testaments.
Collect: O God, Who in the glorious Transfiguration of Thine Only-begotten Son, hast confirmed the mysteries of the Faith by the testimony of the Fathers, and Who, in the Voice that came from the bright cloud, didst in a wonderful manner foreshow the adoption of sons: Mercifully vouchsafe to make us coheirs with the King of His glory, and bring us to the enjoyment of the same; through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
