Following God and His law

	Word to Life  By Jeff Hensley

Over the years I've known any number of fervent Christians who either endured really rough childhoods or had a rough transition to adulthood or both.

At some point, all of this turmoil brought each of them to what I consider the most powerful posture a believer - or even a seeker of God - can take, kneeling before their Creator.

July 27, 2008 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time 1 Kings 3:5, 7-12 Psalm 119:57, 72, 76-77, 127-130 Romans 8:28-30 Matthew 13:44-52

This posture of humility is the posture we hear in Solomon's response to God's offer to grant him anything he desires now that he has become king of Israel. Solomon asks not for riches or power but wisdom.

The psalm points us toward the value of God's law above the value of silver or gold.

Jesus, in Matthew, first tells us two parables about the value of the kingdom of God. First, he likens the kingdom of God to a treasure buried in a field that a man finds, then buries again, so that he can sell all that he has to purchase the field. Next, Jesus compares the kingdom to a pearl of great price for which the pearl merchant is willing to pay all that he has.

But Jesus also gives us a warning in a third parable. The kingdom, he tells us, is like a net cast by the angels at the end of time. In it are all kinds of things, he says, and the angels gather from that net "the righteous," consigning those left, "the wicked," to "the fiery furnace."

Jesus portrays God as loving beyond measure and forgiving beyond any human understanding of the term - and at the same time just.

The choice of how we respond to these tremendous offers of grace, forgiveness, and the wisdom found in humility before God is ours.

	For reflection: • What barriers stand between you and yielding your life to the rule of God's law of love, justice, mercy, and forgiveness? • Are there any steps you can take today that will bring you closer to the reign of God in your life?

Those people I mentioned above became fervent Christians, giving evidence of their conversions by their love of God, their neighbors, and their families. Such conversion came as a result of each one deciding the top priority in life was following God and loving his law and those he set before them to love and care for. Their brokenness brought them wisdom, the kingdom, and all things besides.

This column is offered in cooperation with the North Texas Catholic of Fort Worth, Texas.

Prayer to St. Raphael Glorious Archangel St. Raphael, great prince of the heavenly court, you are illustrious for your gifts of wisdom and grace. You are a guide of those who journey by land or sea or air, consoler of the afflicted, and refuge of sinners. We beg you, assist us in all our needs and in all the sufferings of this life, as once you helped the young Tobias on his travels. Because you are the "medicine of God" we humbly pray you to heal the many infirmities of our souls and the ills that afflict our bodies. We especially ask your guidance of our diocese as we journey toward the rebuilding of a cathedral bearing your name, and the great grace of purity to prepare us to be temples of the Holy Spirit. As our intercessor, beg the Blessed Trinity to prosper the work of our hands and, above all, to bring us, face-to-face, into their Holy presence. Amen.