Today in Matthew's gospel Jesus continues teaching in parables.  The reign of God is like a buried treasure which a man found in a field.  He hid it again and with great joy went off and sold all that he had and bought the field.  To have discovered the real treasure of God's reign in your life, is to recognize that nothing else really matters.  There is only one thing to do, sell everything else and embrace the reign of God.
    The reign of God is like a dragnet thrown into the lake.  Of the many things collected, what is worthwhile will be saved, what is useless will be thrown away.  Whoever discovers the reign of God must examine his or her life and put what is worthwhile in the proper place and discard whatever is useless.
    What is the reign of God like?  In some parables Jesus describes the reign of God as a hidden power capable of transforming us and the world through us.  In other parables Jesus describes the reign of God as a critical moment in which we discover what is really important and necessary for a meaningful life. 
    In some parables the reign of God appears suddenly, in others it is searched for with diligence.  Always it is described in simple everyday terms.  The reign of God does not come to us with fanfare or media hype.  It comes to those who have eyes to see and ears to hear.  The reign of God comes to those who know it when they see it and have the courage to let it transform them into God's own.

Thanks to all who attended Pizza with the Pastor for teens, the last two Sundays.  Also a special thanks to the adults who participated as well. 
Pizza with the Pastor for young adults, ages 18-24, will take place on Sundays, July 31st and August 7th, also in the cafeteria, from 5PM till 7PM.  Registration forms may be downloaded at: http://parish.sthilarychicago.org/news-for-teens-a-young-adults .  This is an opportunity for me to listen to the young adults of St. Hilary Parish share their thoughts and ideas about the future of our parish.