Wisdom 3: 5-6
Chastised a little, they shall be greatly blessed,
because God tried them
and found them worthy of himself.
As gold in the furnace, he proved them,
and as sacrificial offerings he took them to himself.
Gold needs to be refined because the forms in which we normally see it, jewelry or coins, aren't purely gold. Gold is soft and must be combined with other metals to make it harder and stronger. In order to calculate what percentage of purity the gold is, a refiner must assess the material through a process of heating, cooling and separating.
A refiner's goal is to get the purest gold possible. Is that perhaps God's purpose with us? He loves us. He loves us as we are. But He loves us too much to leave us where we are. The refiner's fire melts gold at temperatures above 100 degrees Celsius. When we are in the midst of the fire, let us pray for God's grace to withstand the test, holding fast to the assurance that we will come through purer and holier people.
Get to know our seminarians! Today's reflection was written by:
Reinaldo Jara, Pastoral year
Home parish: Our Lady of the Rosary
Did you know...
I went to USF for two years before entering seminary to pursue nursing. I've worked at several restaurants.
Pray with us for the men and women discerning the priesthood and religious life. To pray for our seminarians by name or to find out more about the Diocese of St. Petersburg vocations office, click here.
