Friday after the Festival of the Transfiguration of our Lord
Posted on February 11, 2022 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
Jesus tells us of a man who found a hidden treasure in a field. He hides that treasure, goes and sells everything he owns, and buys that field. Then, Jesus tells us that there was a merchant who in the course of his work found a beautiful pearl of great price. In order to own that valuable pearl the merchant went and sold everything he owned.
Jesus also tells of a dragnet being thrown into the sea that yields both good and bad things. The good things were kept, while the bad things were thrown away. At the end of the age the angels will come forth and separate the wicked from the righteous. The bad will be cast into the fiery furnace; the just—those justified through faith in Christ by God’s grace—will go to everlasting life.
The things of God, old and new, are great treasures. These things—the Old and New Testaments, the Law, the Gospel, the Sacraments—are the treasures that save sinners like you and me. Thanks be to God for His many gifts to us!
Prayer: O God, Who in the glorious Transfiguration of Thy 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.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
