What are you willing to give up for Jesus?

Our seminary, the Holy Apostles Senior Seminary, is a “late vocation” seminary that caters to individuals who felt called to take the path to the priesthood later in life. All of us seminarians are professionals who have previously held relevant positions in companies, or were thriving and successful in particular careers. Thus, the decision to enter the seminary might have shocked everyone, especially our family, relatives, and friends. People thought that we already had everything in the world, and they considered it bizarre that we gave up those things and pursued the vocation to becomes priests.

This act of giving up also manifests in our Gospel today. Like the two people in the parables, they left everything that they had for the sake of genuine joy, that is, the kingdom of heaven. I believe that it was not an easy decision for them to give up all those things. It is the same with us, HASS seminarians. We took a risk. Some of us were breadwinners in the family. Some were already earning more than enough to fulfill their dreams. Others were at the peak of their careers. However, we could never underestimate the mystery of God and His grace, who works in us unceasingly from the time we decided to enter the seminary until now that we are already seminarians. Through daily discernment and purification, God unfolds our potential. We realize His great love for us, and we come to see the hidden splendor of His Kingdom, a cause of our genuine joy.

We may think that the gateway to our happiness lies in this world. We pursue them, even at the expense of our honor and dignity, only to find out that they are not the fulfillment we seek. We end up regretting it and continue searching for happiness in life. The Gospel challenges us to be willing to give up everything that we hold so that we may obtain something more valuable. Similarly, we should not equate contentment and happiness with worldly possessions because genuine joy, contentment, and peace can only be found in God. He is the pearl of great price and our hidden treasure.

By: Sem. Roldan B. Baliano

Today’s Gospel

Matthew 13:44-46

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.”