1. Wednesday Gospel Webinar
Portsmouth Diocese – Formation for Mission

2. Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth.
O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations, Through Christ Our Lord, Amen.

3. Literal meaning
Where? Matthew 13 – somewhere in Galilee – into the house
When? After having taught parables to the crowds
What? Jesus continues to teach his disciples in the house
Who? Jesus, disciples
How? 3 Parables – the treasure, the pearl, the dragnet
Why? Reveals the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven

4. 3 parables The kingdom of heaven is like…
A treasure – something more precious than anything else
Loss and gain / sacrifice and reward
In ‘progress’ – beginning, middle, end
Underlying, ultimate reality

5. Our choice God’s choice
The treasure
The pearl
Recognising what is of value
The dragnet
Recognising what is of value

6. Finding God The kingdom of heaven The hidden treasure
Sacrifice and Reward
Ultimate reality

7. Finding the human person
What is my treasure?
What am I ‘losing’ my life for?
Is my life directed to an end?
Am I taking the means to reach that end?
Am I living in the reality of the kingdom of heaven?

8. Finding the Church Her king Her treasure Her sacrifice Her direction
Her means to get there

10. Mary, Virgin and Mother,
you who, moved by the Holy Spirit,
welcomed the word of life
in the depths of your humble faith:
as you gave yourself completely to the Eternal One,
help us to say our own “yes”
to the urgent call, as pressing as ever,
to proclaim the good news of Jesus.
Mother of the living Gospel,
wellspring of happiness for God’s little ones,
pray for us.
Amen. Alleluia.

11. Acknowledgments
Mosaics artworks: © Fr Marko Rupnik and Centro Aletti
With gratitude to the Wednesday Word