The Ambo: Homilies for the Faithful

The Kingdom Parables of Jesus: The Parable of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.” Matthew 13:44–46 (NRSVCE) For the past few weeks we have been breaking open the parables of Christ. Jesus, the master teacher, uses the parable to illustrate truth to the trusting, to protect truth from the skeptic and cynic, and to paint in permanent colors the most important characteristics of Kingdom living—what being a Christian is all about. Remember, the work “parable” comes from two Greek words— para (meaning alongside—like a paralegal) and ballo (which means to throw). So a parable—the word parabolein —is a throwing alongside —taking something that we know from our everyday lives...

51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.” 52 The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us (his) flesh to eat?” 53 Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. 54 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. 55 For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. 56 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. 57 Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever.” John 6:51–58 (NAB)  Today is the Solemnity of the Most Holy Bo...

19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21 (Jesus) said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the holy Spirit. 23 Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.”                                                                     ...