FIRST READING
Be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.
A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Philippians (Philippians 2:1-11)
Brethren: if there is any encouragement in Christ, any incentive of love, any participation in the Spirit, any affections and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfishness or conceit, but in humility count others better than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Isaiah 12:2-3.4bcde.5-6 (R. 1de)
R. Your anger turned away and you comforted me.
“Behold, God is my salvation;
I will trust, and will not be afraid;
for the Lord GOD is my strength and my song,
and he has become my salvation.”
With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. R.
“Give thanks to the Lord, call upon his name;
make known his deeds among the nations,
proclaim that his name is exalted.” R.
“Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously;
let this be known in all the earth.
Shout, and sing for joy, O inhabitant of Zion,
for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.” R.
ALLELUIA 2 Corinthians 5: 19
Alleluia. God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Alleluia
GOSPEL
He sells all that he has and buys that field.
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Matthew 13:44-46)
At that time: Jesus said to the crowds, “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.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Today’s Reflection
In the First Reading of today, we are taught that humility exalts a person while pride humiliates a person. Hence, God exalted Jesus above all else because of his humility and obedience. In the Gospel, Jesus teaches us that the ultimate goal is the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, everything we do should be geared towards attaining this heavenly kingdom. Today, as we celebrate the feast of Blessed Cyprian Michael Iwene Tansi who humbles himself and sought God through his austere life and mortification to attain the heavenly kingdom and the crown of glory, may his intercession make us humble Christians who sincerely and genuinely desire the kingdom of God.