Prayer

Acknowledgement of Country 

We acknowledge and pay respect to the original and ongoing custodians of the land upon which our offices are situated.  We commit to actively working alongside First Nations people for healing, reconciliation and justice.

The Catholic education faith community is inclusive and acknowledges that we are all made in the image and likeness of God and we are created in love. People of all faiths, genders, sexualities, abilities and cultures are therefore respected equally in the Sandhurst Catholic community.  

We acknowledge the pain and suffering of all who have been hurt in body, mind and spirit by those who have betrayed the trust placed in them.

May we all stand tall, stand firm, grounded in truth, together as one. 

Celebrating The Word of God

A reading from the Gospel of Matthew 13:44-52

 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls.  When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it."

“Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets but threw the bad away. This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

“Have you understood all these things?” Jesus asked.

“Yes,” they replied.

 He said to them, “Therefore every teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.”

The Gospel of the Lord 

Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ

Spiritual Reflection

Jesus shares several parables, focussing upon the profound value and significance of the Kingdom of Heaven. The central theme is the priceless worth of God's kingdom, likened to hidden treasures and precious pearls. Encountering the truth of God’s love is an invitation to radical transformation in our lives. We are called to seek God above all else, sacrificing worldly pursuits to gain eternal treasure. 

Furthermore, the parable of the net teaches about God's final judgment, separating the righteous from the wicked. Jesus urges us to seek God, embrace God’s truth, and live faithfully to inherit the fullness of God’s kingdom.

Reflect upon a time when you placed ‘worldy goods’ before ‘the pearl of great price’.

In what ways are you the pearl of great price to others?

Concluding Prayer

Loving God, thank You for Jesus Christ, the pearl of great price. May my life be a reflection of Christ to this world. 

We make this prayer through Christ our Lord 

Amen

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