Intoxication of Love

First Reading: Jeremiah 15:10, 16-21

Woe to me, mother, that you gave me birth!
a man of strife and contention to all the land!
I neither borrow nor lend,
yet all curse me.
When I found your words, I devoured them;
they became my joy and the happiness of my heart,
Because I bore your name,
O LORD, God of hosts.
I did not sit celebrating
in the circle of merrymakers;
Under the weight of your hand I sat alone
because you filled me with indignation.
Why is my pain continuous,
my wound incurable, refusing to be healed?
You have indeed become for me a treacherous brook,
whose waters do not abide!
Thus the LORD answered me:
If you repent, so that I restore you,
in my presence you shall stand;
If you bring forth the precious without the vile,
you shall be my mouthpiece.
Then it shall be they who turn to you,
and you shall not turn to them;
And I will make you toward this people
a solid wall of brass.
Though they fight against you,
they shall not prevail,
For I am with you,
to deliver and rescue you, says the LORD.
I will free you from the hand of the wicked,
and rescue you from the grasp of the violent.

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 59:2-3, 4, 10-11, 17, 18

R. (17d) God is my refuge on the day of distress.
Rescue me from my enemies, O my God;
from my adversaries defend me.
Rescue me from evildoers;
from bloodthirsty men save me.
R. God is my refuge on the day of distress.
For behold, they lie in wait for my life;
mighty men come together against me,
Not for any offense or sin of mine, O LORD.
R. God is my refuge on the day of distress.
O my strength! for you I watch;
for you, O God, are my stronghold,
As for my God, may his mercy go before me;
may he show me the fall of my foes.
R. God is my refuge on the day of distress.
But I will sing of your strength
and revel at dawn in your mercy;
You have been my stronghold,
my refuge in the day of distress.
R. God is my refuge on the day of distress.
O my strength! your praise will I sing;
for you, O God, are my stronghold,
my merciful God!
R. God is my refuge on the day of distress.

Gospel: Matthew 13:44-46

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.”

NAB

When I was first falling in love with Christ and His Church, I experienced some pretty emotional and spiritual highs. My love for this Truth swelled. It poured out and over me. It was intoxicating.

And over time, that intensity faded. And I mourned it. Maybe you’ve had a similar experience? I went through several years of spiritual dryness. It was painful and frustrating. Years later, I learned that there was a name for those highs: spiritual consolation. I also learned that in a spiritual desert, those consolations are like little treasures that I could collect and store in a sort of spiritual treasure chest. When times were especially difficult, I could recall those sweet moments, and remember the power and beauty of God’s love for me.

The truth is, the majority of my adult faith life has been dry as chalk.

Dusty

A desert.

How can I turn away, though? This faith walk can be so challenging. The world might find this delusional. The world would have me believe that things would be easier if I just did "this" or accepted "that." But like the man who found a treasure hidden in a field, I know what I’ve found. I was in search of treasure, and found it in Him. Christ is the pearl of great price, and I am willing to let go of so much in order to hold onto Him.

I was in search of treasure, and found it in Him.Click to tweet

What is the Kingdom of Heaven worth to you? What in your life are you willing to give up for Heaven?

photo credit

Jacqueline Skemp is a daughter, sister, wife and mother who endures living in Minnesota after leaving California for her one true love. You can find out more about her here.