The Gospel for The memorial of St. Ignatius of Loyola Priest is taken from Matthew 13:44, 46th verse. Jesus said to his disciples, the kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field which a person finds and hides again. And out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field again. The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls. When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it.

Jesus speaks of the kingdom of God, the kingdom of heaven. They’re the same. And what’s so interesting about it? He makes it clear that this is the image of what we are all called to do and to be. To be living in this kingdom. And sometimes we think we have to earn it, or we have to work for it, or we have to make ourselves into something we’re not.

No, the key is the kingdom of heaven. The kingdom of God is already here. It is inside of you. And so what you have to do is find it, believe it’s there, know it’s there, and make it the prize that you put above every other thing in your life. I want to be fully alive. I want to live in a kingdom of peace, joy and love.

I want it more than anything. Take a few moments to ponder the thoughts that come to you from this reading and reflection. And then I will close with a prayer. Sam Satan Sa Foreign Closing prayer Father, open our hearts to your wisdom. You alone can reveal to us fully the mystery of what we are about in this world. The kingdom of God is mysterious, but the most important thing is that you will come into the world to awaken us to what it is.

And when we seek it, we will find it. And we ask this in Jesus name, Amen.