0:07
Reading from the book of Exodus. When
0:09
Moses came down from Mount Si carrying
0:12
the two tablets of the covenant law in
0:14
his hands, he did not know that the skin
0:16
of his face shone because he had spoken
0:18
with the Lord. When Aaron and the
0:20
Israelites saw his face shining, they
0:23
were afraid to come near. So Moses
0:25
called them and Aaron and the leaders of
0:28
the community came to him. After he had
0:30
spoken to them, all the Israelites came
0:32
near him. And Moses told them all the
0:34
commands the Lord had given him on Mount
0:36
Si. When Moses had finished speaking to
0:39
them, he covered his face with a veil.
0:42
Whenever Moses went to speak to the
0:44
Lord, he would remove the veil until he
0:46
was about to go out. Then he would go
0:49
out and speak to the Israelites about
0:51
everything he had been commanded. They
0:53
saw the skin of Moses' face shining, and
0:56
Moses was like a child. But he would
0:59
cover his face with a veil again until
1:01
he went in to speak with the Lord. The
1:03
word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
1:15
Proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus
1:17
Christ according to St. Matthew. Glory
1:20
to you, Lord. At that time, Jesus said
1:23
to the crowd, "The kingdom of heaven is
1:26
like treasure hidden in a field. A man
1:28
finds it and hides it. Overjoyed, he
1:31
goes and sells everything he has and
1:33
buys that field. The kingdom of heaven
1:36
is like a buyer looking for fine pearls.
1:39
When he finds one pearl of great price,
1:42
he goes and sells everything he has and
1:44
buys that pearl." The word of salvation.
1:58
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
2:01
imagine yourself walking along a beach
2:03
at dawn. The sun hasn't fully risen yet,
2:06
but there's already a golden light on
2:08
the horizon. Suddenly, you encounter
2:11
someone whose face glows with that same
2:13
golden light, but not reflected,
2:15
emanating from within. Their eyes shine
2:18
with indescribable joy. Their smile
2:21
radiates an uncontainable happiness.
2:24
This person has just discovered the
2:26
greatest treasure of their life. This
2:28
image helps us delve into the profound
2:30
truths revealed in our readings today.
2:33
In the book of Exodus, we encounter one
2:36
of the most extraordinary scenes in all
2:38
of scripture. Moses is descending from
2:40
Mount Si after 40 days and 40 nights in
2:43
the intimate presence of God. He carries
2:46
in his hands the tablets of the law,
2:49
renewed after having been broken in his
2:50
indignation at the people's idolatry.
2:53
But there is something different about
2:55
Moses, something he himself doesn't
2:57
initially perceive. The skin of his face
3:00
shown because he had spoken with the
3:02
Lord. What a powerful image. Intimacy
3:06
with God had transformed Moses so much
3:08
that his very physical appearance was
3:10
altered. He hadn't applied any
3:12
cosmetics, hadn't undergone any cosmetic
3:15
procedures. Simple proximity to divine
3:18
glory had transfigured him. But there is
3:21
something even more touching in this
3:23
narrative. Moses did not know that the
3:26
skin of his face shone. Herein lies a
3:29
profound truth about true holiness. When
3:32
someone is genuinely close to God, when
3:34
their life is imbued with a divine
3:36
presence, this transformation is evident
3:38
to everyone around them except for
3:40
themselves. How often do we meet people
3:43
like this? People whose mere presence
3:45
makes us feel closer to God. They
3:48
radiate a peace, a joy, a wisdom that
3:51
comes not from courses or techniques,
3:53
but from a profound intimacy with the
3:55
creator. And often these people are the
3:58
least aware of their own spiritual
4:00
brilliance. The people of Israel had an
4:03
interesting reaction upon seeing Moses
4:05
transfigured. They were afraid to come
4:07
near him. God's glory, though beautiful
4:10
and attractive, can also be intimidating
4:13
to those unprepared for it. It's like
4:16
looking directly at the sun. We know
4:18
it's the source of all life and light,
4:20
but its intensity can blind us if we're
4:22
not protected. That's why Moses placed a
4:25
veil over his face, not to hide God's
4:28
glory, but to allow the people to
4:30
gradually approach, to slowly become
4:32
accustomed to this new reality.
4:34
Spiritual transformation, both ours and
4:37
that of others, often needs to happen
4:39
gradually with patience and wisdom. But
4:42
there's a crucial detail. When Moses
4:45
went in before the Lord to speak with
4:46
him, he would remove the veil until he
4:49
came out. In God's presence, there was
4:52
no need for moderation or filtering.
4:55
There Moses could shine in all his
4:57
transformed intensity. This teaches us
5:00
that our intimacy with God must always
5:02
be authentic and without barriers. Now,
5:06
let's turn to the gospel where Jesus
5:08
presents us with two seemingly simple
5:10
but profoundly revealing parables. The
5:13
first tells of a man who finds treasure
5:15
hidden in a field. The second of a
5:18
merchant searching for precious pearls
5:20
who finds one of inestimable value. In
5:23
both cases, the reaction is the same.
5:26
Overflowing joy that leads to decisive
5:28
action. The man who finds the treasure
5:31
is overjoyed and goes and sells
5:33
everything he has and buys that field.
5:36
The merchant goes and sells all he has
5:39
and buys it. Note that Jesus doesn't say
5:42
they were worried about the cost or that
5:44
they hesitated or that they asked for a
5:47
discount. The joy of discovery was so
5:50
great that any sacrifice seemed
5:51
insignificant compared to the value of
5:53
what they had found. This is the essence
5:56
of authentic Christian living. The
5:58
discovery that God, his love, his
6:00
presence, his kingdom is worth more than
6:03
anything we can possess or achieve in
6:05
this world. And when we make this
6:07
discovery, not just intellectually, but
6:10
with our whole being, our lives are
6:12
radically transformed. But here is a
6:14
profound connection between our two
6:16
readings. Both Moses and the men in the
6:19
parables were transformed by an
6:20
encounter with something infinitely
6:22
valuable. Moses was transformed by his
6:25
direct encounter with God. The men in
6:27
the parables were transformed by the
6:29
discovery of the kingdom of heaven. And
6:31
in all cases, the transformation was
6:34
evident. Moses' face shown. The men in
6:37
the parables acted with a joy and
6:39
determination that was surely noticed by
6:41
everyone around them. When we truly
6:44
encounter God, when we discover the
6:46
treasure of his kingdom, we cannot hide
6:48
that discovery. My dear brothers and
6:51
sisters, let me ask you some questions
6:53
that penetrate the heart. Have you ever
6:55
had this experience? Have you ever
6:58
discovered that God is the supreme
7:00
treasure? Have you ever experienced an
7:02
intimacy with him so profound that it
7:04
transformed not only your thoughts but
7:06
your very presence? If the answer is
7:09
yes, then you know what I'm talking
7:11
about. You know that no sacrifice is too
7:14
great to maintain this intimacy. You
7:16
know that time invested in prayer is not
7:19
wasted time, but the most valuable
7:21
investment you can make. You know that
7:23
living according to the principles of
7:25
the kingdom is worth any cost. If the
7:28
answer is no, or if you're not sure,
7:31
then today is an invitation to seek this
7:33
transformative experience, not as a
7:36
religious obligation, but as a spiritual
7:38
adventure, a search for the most
7:41
valuable treasure there is. Imagine what
7:43
it would be like if each of us left here
7:45
today with our faces shining like Moses.
7:48
Not literally, but spiritually. If our
7:51
joy were so evident, our peace so deep,
7:54
our love so genuine that those around us
7:57
realized we had found something
7:58
extraordinary. The intimacy with God
8:00
that transformed Moses is available to
8:03
each of us. The treasure of the kingdom
8:05
that Jesus describes is not reserved for
8:08
just a privileged few. It is offered
8:10
freely to all of us. The question is,
8:14
are we willing to pay the price? And
8:16
what is that price? It's not money that
8:19
God wants. It's our entire lives, our
8:23
schedules, our priorities, our dreams,
8:26
our fears, our hopes. It's the complete
8:29
surrender of ourselves to the one who
8:31
loved us first. Some might think, "But
8:34
that's too expensive. It's too much to
8:37
ask." But remember the joy of the men in
8:40
the parables. They didn't see the price
8:43
as a sacrifice, but as a privilege. When
8:46
we truly discover God's worth, giving
8:48
our lives to him is not a loss, but the
8:51
best investment we can make. And here's
8:53
a wonderful truth. God doesn't want our
8:56
lives to impoverish us, but to
8:58
infinitely enrich us. He doesn't want to
9:01
take something from us, but to give us
9:03
everything that truly matters. When we
9:06
surrender our lives to him, we receive
9:08
back a transformed life, a life that
9:11
shines with his glory. So dear brothers
9:14
and sisters, I invite you today to make
9:16
this surrender. If you haven't already,
9:19
decide today that you want to know God
9:21
intimately as Moses knew him. Decide
9:24
that you want to discover the treasure
9:26
of the kingdom as the men in the
9:28
parables discovered. And for those who
9:31
have already made this surrender, I
9:33
encourage you to deepen your intimacy
9:35
with God even further. Like Moses who
9:38
continued climbing the mountain to meet
9:39
the Lord. Continue seeking moments of
9:42
divine intimacy. Like merchants who
9:45
always seek the finest pearls. Continue
9:47
discovering new dimensions of spiritual
9:50
wealth. May we leave here today with our
9:52
faces shining not with makeup or
9:54
cosmetic procedures but with the glory
9:57
of God reflected in our lives. May our
10:00
joy be so evident that others wonder
10:02
what treasure we have discovered. And
10:04
may our lives be a living testimony that
10:07
it is worth surrendering everything to
10:09
Jesus. May the grace of our Lord Jesus
10:11
Christ, the love of God the Father, and
10:14
the communion of the Holy Spirit be with
10:16
you all today and always. Amen.
10:28
St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in
10:31
battle. be our protection against the
10:33
wickedness and snares of the devil. May
10:36
God rebuke him, we humbly pray. And do
10:39
thou, O prince of the heavenly host, by
10:42
the power of God, cast into hell Satan
10:46
and all the evil spirits who prowl
10:48
throughout the world seeking the ruin of
