A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew.

Jesus continued to address the disciples:

“The kindom of God is like a buried treasure found in a field.  The ones who discovered it hid it again, and rejoicing at the discovery went and sold all their possessions and bought that field.

Or again, the kindom of Heaven is like a merchant’s search for fine pearls.  When one pearl of great value was found, the merchant went back and sold everything else and bought it.

“The kindom of Heaven is also like a dragnet thrown into the sea, which collected all kinds of fish.  When it is full, the fishers haul it ashore.  Then, sitting down, they collect the good ones in a basket and throw away those that are of no use.  This is how it will be at the end of time.  The angels will come and separate the wicked from the just, and throw the wicked into the blazing furnace where there will be weeping and the gnashing of teeth.

“Have you understood all this?”  “Yes,” they answered, to which Jesus replied, “Every scribe who is learned in the reign of Heaven is like the head of a household who can bring from the storeroom both the new and the old.”

The Good News as spoken through Matthew.