Everyone would agree: our lives are filled with all kinds of things.
Actions, reactions, relations, sensations, emotions, anticipations…
Beliefs, regrets, hopes, fears, joys, memories…
Bits and pieces of experiences of all kinds!

We may see some of them as good and helpful.
Others we may judge as negative and discouraging.

Could it be that we would need to do what we see fishermen do in today’s gospel text (Matthew 13:47-48)?
These men are busy doing some sorting out – keeping and throwing away.
They choose what is good and save it, and they discard what is not.

Choices… Attachment… Detachment…

Looking closely at our daily lives, we may discover some paralyzing souvenirs.
The memory of some events overwhelms us with shame and prevents us from living with joy.
We may find out that the guilt of some past actions leads us to unhealthy reactions.

We may also be deeply sorry that we have abandoned our faith in God.
We long to turn back to him but… we hesitate… we wait… we wonder…

If this is where we find ourselves just now, we need only to remember the words of the apostle Paul in the 2^nd reading:

“We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him” (Romans 8:28).
 
In all things – whatever they are, no exception, no qualification… ALL.
He can make all of our human experiences stepping-stones to get closer to him.
 

Note: Another text is available on a different theme, in French, at: https://image-i-nations.com/17e-dimanche-de-lannee-a-2023/

Source: Image: Scripture Images     GOD’S WORD translation