Gospel for July 26 2026 – Matthew 13:44-52
Gospel Reflections for July 26 2026
MISSION SUNDAY HIDDEN TREASURES
The Gospel presents the happy stories of people discovering hidden treasures of great value.
They discover valuable things and take the right steps needed to acquire them. They are willing to sacrifice a lot to attain them and are wise in doing so.
Once people discover how valuable something is, like a fine pearl, they will go to extraordinary lengths to acquire it. Nothing wrong with that!
There is a famous story from our Catholic history that affirms this Gospel idea. About 200 years after Jesus, the Roman Emperor Valerian ordered a persecution of the Catholic Church. He specifically wanted to execute all the leaders …Bishops, Priests, and all Deacons.
When Deacon Lawrence in Rome was brought before him, the Emperor found out that he was in charge of all the finances and treasures of the Catholic Church in Rome. He demanded they be turned over at once. Lawrence said that the amount was so great it will take him three days to get it together. This large amount really intrigued the Emperor who gave him permission for that time to bring it all to him.
Three days later the Emperor came to Deacon Lawrence’s church for the expected payout. You can imagine his thoughts about untold amounts of gold and silver! When he asked for the treasures of the Church, Deacon Lawrence opened the doors of the church …and showed him a church full of the poorest people in Rome.
Lawrence then looked straight at the Emperor and said, “Behold in these poor persons are the treasures which I promised to show you; to which I will add pearls and precious stones, which are the widows and consecrated virgins, which are the Church’s crown.”
Caring for the poor was unheard of in the Roman Empire so the Emperor did not like that answer …and had Deacon Lawrence martyred. Yet the statement of Deacon Lawrence remains true today. It was followers of Christ who first cared for the poor and those who were in desperate need and that has remained true for our entire Catholic Church history.
On this Sunday, we welcome a speaker on behalf of the annual Mission Appeal of the Los Angeles Archdiocese for those many millions around the world who still remain the true treasure of the Church …and that we hold most dear and seek to help.
God Bless!
Fr. Dave
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