​"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up; 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, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.”-Matthew 13:44-46

This weekend brings us another parable - and this one is another great visual!  Imagine you're on a walk, and you stumble on a treasure, not just any treasure but one that you are sure is priceless.  But there's a problem - you don't own the land you found the treasure on.... now what?!?!  What would you do to buy the land that has the treasure on it?  Are you willing to give up all that you own for it?  Jesus uses this parable to show his disciples that relationship with Him both here and in heaven is priceless! 

But how do we define "priceless" - when we think of something that has incredible value we might picture diamonds, piles of gemstones, or stacks of gold bars - those things, though do have value, it may be larger than we could imagine, but there is still a tangible value to those things.  What are some things we can't put value on?  The first warm snuggle from a newborn baby, or maybe the final squeeze of the hand of a loved one as they pass.  Those are things that when we think of them we know they can't be bought, they are truly priceless.   Do we treat our relationship with Christ with the same value?  Do we value it?  Nuture it with prayer and study?  Share it with our friends and family? Long for everyone we meet to feel the joy it brings?   It reminds me of what a Priest friend shared with me when I told him I just "didn't have time" to improve my personal prayer life - he reminded me that we make time for the things that are important to us.  What an important reminder for this Sunday!  

Here is a link to a great video of the Gospel reading this week:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXX3guJjaZY

Also how are you celebrating at home this Sunday?  This is a fun Sunday to tie the Gospel into our home church - we typically have meatloaf for dinner - and I stuff it with something fun (ya know, treasure!).  I've done mashed potatoes and cheddar cheese before.   Last year we has a treasure hunt for the kids where each stop had them finding toppings for a Sundae bar - yummy treasure indeed!  How are you spending this Sunday?  Share below! 

​Jen 

Happy Sunday!!  During this Ordinary time we hear several parables from Jesus.  These are my favorite way of teaching faith to my own children because the depth of the parables grows as both they and their faith mature.  

The parable of the sower or farmer - is by far my favorite.  Maybe because I have fond memories of summer farm life at my grandparents, or maybe because it is such a visual for us to see just how important nurturing our faith is!  The farmer is diligent in planting the seed, but the birds eat it .... then it gets scattered on rocks and scorched by the sun ... then it gets smothered by the thorns .... finally it finds fertile ground where it can flourish.   There is much to note here - not the least of which is the persistence of the farmer to keep pushing forward despite the obstacles. 

The obstacles to our faith now are large - never did I imagine I would be raising 5 kids in the midst of a pandemic and such unrest in our country.  There are many times discouragement creeps in like the thorns, or a bright promising attitude is scorched like the sun.   When that happens I am reminded that the fertile soil of our faith first begins at home, that nurturing that is so critical.  Then I look at the fertile soil that is our parish - slowly reopening, finding a new way to serve...... while I am impatient and would much rather flip the lights on and return to the "pre-Covid" St. Paul - I am reminded that fertile soil needs cultivated, tended to and it is a slow and painstaking process.  

I remember standing at the edge of farm fields listening to my grandpa talk about the crops, wondering if we would have enough rain, wondering if it would get too hot, knowing there was never a guarantee of a bountiful harvest.  Like the farmer we will continue to weather this time - we know that life is full of thorns, rocks in the road and other distractions - but there is always a space for the seeds of our faith to take root. 

This week I encourage you to go for a drive in the country - check out the farm fields - pray for our farmers, and discuss with your family how you can work towards an abundant harvest by sharing the faith! 

Prayers! 

Jen 

Gospel video for this week: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZEO_Ls2ERs