R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth;
for you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the kingdom.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

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.
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net thrown into the sea,
which collects fish of every kind.
When it is full they haul it ashore
and sit down to put what is good into buckets.
What is bad they throw away.
Thus it will be at the end of the age.
The angels will go out and separate the wicked from the righteous
and throw them into the fiery furnace,
where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.

“Do you understand all these things?”
They answered, “Yes.”
And he replied,
“Then every scribe who has been instructed in the kingdom of heaven
is like the head of a household
who brings from his storeroom both the new and the old.”

What is the most expensive pearl in the world? Just about 16 years ago, a Filipino fisherman discovered a giant pearl in a clam in the Philippine Sea that weighed in at 75 pounds and is worth $100 Million … a precious pearl to say the least!

In relation to the Kingdom of God, what are 5 precious and essential pearls in our lives as Catholic believers that bring our lives into God’s Kingdom?

1) Peace

2) Health

3) Family and friends

4) Forgiveness

5) The Table

1) Peace

Protect your peace. Love yourself enough to protect your peace … Our Lady, Queen of Peace, pray for us!

2) Heath

Do not take health for granted. Take care of your mind, body and soul. In fact, the more we care for ourselves, the more we can be of service to others.

3)Family and friends

No family is perfect. No friend is perfect. We all need to be of service to our good family members – to be of service to our good friends. None of us likes being used for the sake of using, either by family or friends. We need to all grow in love – as family, as friends – this is precious.

4) Forgiveness

Because none of us is perfect, neither family nor friends, we need also to forgive, to let go, and to start anew. Forgiveness means learning from our mistakes and moving forward with love.

5) The Table

In these wonderful, festival days of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and Saint Anthony, our theme this year is the old-fashioned neighborhood Italian grocery store: Il Mercato d’Alimentari. They were all over Youngstown! Brier Hill, Smokey Hollow, the Eastside, the Westside, Northside, Southside, right here even on Via Mount Carmel (Back then it was called Summit Avenue).

It was there you went for fresh, warm bread, pasta, fresh eggs, and free-range chicken. And you brought these to your table, family gathered around, and the family and the friends ate very well, even on a shoestring of a budget. As someone who grew up in a grocery store from the age of 5, I sing the praises of the table. It is a precious essential of life within the Kingdom of God.

Remember the words of Saint Paul today: we who love God must make all things work together. Therefore, make these 5 precious things work in your life.

At this moment, as we gather around the table and altar of sacrifice of Jesus to the Father, it is Jesus, the Son of the Living God, that we offer and receive – His precious body and blood. Ask Him at this Mass, and His mother, to help you to hold on to these precious things of His Kingdom, and to life itself.

We need to be like Solomon in the First Book of Kings, as we parade to the festival today, with wisdom and understanding for one another that comes from God. And keep these precious treasures in your heart: Peace. Health. Family and friends. Forgiveness. And of course, the table. Amen.

Monsignor Michael J. Cariglio, Jr., Pastor, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Basilica – Saint Anthony Parish

The LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream at night.
God said, “Ask something of me and I will give it to you.”
Solomon answered:
“O LORD, my God, you have made me, your servant, king
to succeed my father David;
but I am a mere youth, not knowing at all how to act.
I serve you in the midst of the people whom you have chosen,
a people so vast that it cannot be numbered or counted.
Give your servant, therefore, an understanding heart
to judge your people and to distinguish right from wrong.
For who is able to govern this vast people of yours?”

The LORD was pleased that Solomon made this request.
So God said to him:
“Because you have asked for this—
not for a long life for yourself,
nor for riches,
nor for the life of your enemies,
but for understanding so that you may know what is right—
I do as you requested.
I give you a heart so wise and understanding
that there has never been anyone like you up to now,
and after you there will come no one to equal you.”

R. (97a) Lord, I love your commands.
I have said, O LORD, that my part
is to keep your words.
The law of your mouth is to me more precious
than thousands of gold and silver pieces.
R. Lord, I love your commands.
Let your kindness comfort me
according to your promise to your servants.
Let your compassion come to me that I may live,
for your law is my delight.
R. Lord, I love your commands.
For I love your commands
more than gold, however fine.
For in all your precepts I go forward;
every false way I hate.
R. Lord, I love your commands.
Wonderful are your decrees;
therefore I observe them.
The revelation of your words sheds light,
giving understanding to the simple.
R. Lord, I love your commands.

Brothers and sisters:
We know that all things work for good for those who love God,
who are called according to his purpose.
For those he foreknew he also predestined
to be conformed to the image of his Son,
so that he might be the firstborn
among many brothers and sisters.
And those he predestined he also called;
and those he called he also justified;
and those he justified he also glorified.

It has long been a Catholic understanding that when circumstances prevent one from receiving Holy Communion, it is possible to make an Act of Spiritual Communion, which is a source of grace. Spiritual Communion is an ardent desire to receive Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament and lovingly embrace him at a time or in circumstances when one cannot receive Him in sacramental Communion. The most common reason for making an Act of Spiritual Communion is when a person cannot attend Mass. Acts of Spiritual Communion increase our desire to receive sacramental Communion and help us avoid the sins that would make us unable to receive Holy Communion worthily.

Spiritual Communion Prayer

My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.

I love you above all things and I desire to receive you in my soul.

Since I cannot at this moment receive you sacramentally,

Come at least spiritually into my heart.

I embrace you as if you were already there

And unite myself wholly to you.

Never permit me to be separated from you.

Amen.