17th
Ordinary Sunday (Year A)
First
Reading: 1 Kings 3:5, 7-12 Second
Reading: Romans 8:28-30 Gospel
Reading: Matthew 13:44-52
“LORD, YOU ARE MY GREATEST TREASURE!”
A story is told of a teacher who asked a class of students, “What would you wish for if you had one wish?”
One
enthusiastic student shouted out, “I would wish for a big house
for my family and myself.”
Another student proudly stood up and said, “I would wish for lots of land, to plant an orchard and export fruits.”
Another student proudly stood up and said, “I would wish for lots of land, to plant an orchard and export fruits.”
A
third student, unable to contain himself declared, “Sir, give me
the latest automobile.”
Then
a young chap stood up, as if possessed with all the wisdom of Solomon
and said, “Sir, I would ask for a million, million dollars or
more. You see, with that I could buy the house the orchard and the
latest automobile!”
The
teacher then called upon a shy student, sitting quietly in the back,
trying to avoid attention, “And what would you wish for?”
The
shy student stood up timidly and whispered, “Sir, I would ask
for an eternity of time, for with that I could make the money to buy
the house, the land and the automobile, and live long enough to enjoy
them!” Young chad had a bad case of sickle cell. He knew he had
limited time. He knew the true value of time.
And
what would our answer be, if the same question is asked to us? Can we
say, “Lord, you are my greatest treasure!”
?
Today is the 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time. Today’s Scripture Readings continue to help us delve into the meaning of the Kingdom of Heaven and to deepen our commitment to it. They put stress on the importance of the Kingdom of Heaven and demand a personal response on our part to God and his Kingdom. In the Gospel Reading from St. Matthew, the Evangelist speaks of the Kingdom of Heaven as the greatest treasure in the life of a disciple, using the images of hidden treasure and a pearl of great price. It is with joy and assurance that one sells everything else to obtain them. There is also mention of another parable, the parable of the dragnet thrown into the sea, of the similar to one about the wheat and the darnel, and the separation process at the end of time. In the First Reading from the 1st Book of the Kings, King Solomon, when given the opportunity by God to ask for what he wishes, prays for practical wisdom and prudence to serve God’s people with Justice. God grants him his request and more qualities to indicate their divine origin. In the Second Reading from his Letter to the Romans, St. Paul declares that, for the person who loves God, everything can be turned to good. He tells that Christ is the firstborn who is God’s most precious gift to us and God intends that we must be conformed to the image of His Son. This is God’s purpose, and this should also be our purpose in life.
THREE MORE KINGDOM PARABLES:
The
Gospel Reading of today completes the 'Discourse
in Parables' in which St. Matthew has collected various
teachings about the nature of the Kingdom of Heaven proclaimed by
Jesus. We are again presented today with three parables, each of
which contributes some insight into the nature of that Kingdom. The
first and second parables are closely linked in meaning but with
slight differences. They are in effect saying that the Kingdom of
Heaven is the most precious things in life. That is, it is
through Jesus and his words that we come to know and understand what
is the real meaning of life, what are the most important things in
life.
a)
The parable of the hidden treasure:
In
the first parable, viz. the parable of the hidden treasure,
Jesus compares entering the Kingdom of Heaven to a person who
unexpectedly stumbles upon a hidden treasure buried in a
field while tilling the soil. Forthwith, he buries it again for the
field where it is hidden does not belong to him. He does not tell the
owner of his discovery, but sells everything he has in order to get
ownership of the field and hence of its buried treasure. The idea
obviously is that when one really discovers Jesus and his vision of
life everything else becomes secondary. In the service of the Kingdom
of Heaven there are no half measures and in that service there is a
special kind of liberating joy. It requires boldness and decisive
action, a single-minded commitment of all one’s resources. It is
also true that conversion to Christ as happening in such an
unexpected way.
b)
The parable of the pearl:
In
the second parable viz. the parable of the pearl, Jesus tells
of a merchant in search of fine pearls. When he finds one of great
price, he also sells everything else he has in order to acquire it.
This parable is similar to the first one but, in this case, it is not
a laborer (a poor man) who actually is not looking for
the treasure discovers the treasure in the course of his ordinary
working day, but a merchant (a rich man) who purposely
seeks it out. There is a need, as the Gospel constantly urges, for us
to be ready whenever and however Jesus comes into our lives. Kingdom
of Heaven is all-inclusive, available to rich and poor alike. Still,
the merchant like the laborer must risk everything to succeed. The
Reign of Jesus in our hearts is the buried treasure or the pearl of
great price. It is for this that Jesus is asking us to search, and
once discovered and its value fully appreciated, to sacrifice
everything to possess it. And the message is clear - discipleship is
open to all but entails sacrifice. Equally clear is the outcome of
the disciple’s quest - a joy that exceeds imagination when he has
found the only truly valuable thing in life.
c)
The parable of the dragnet thrown into the sea:
This
brings us to the third parable today viz. the parable of the
dragnet thrown into the sea and it focuses on the ultimate
judgment. Here Jesus compares the Kingdom of Heaven to a fishing net
which when thrown into the sea collects all sorts of fish. The net
could not and does not discriminate. It is left to the fishermen to
do the dividing and the separating process. While the first and
second parables speak of the total commitment and dedication which
are the ideal of every follower of Christ, this third parable helps
us to put our two feet firmly back on the ground. It hearkens back to
last week’s parable of the wheat and the weeds that tried
to explain the presence of those evil ones who seem unfit for the
Kingdom. The invitation of Jesus to be part of God’s reign is open
to rich and poor, good and bad; in fact, many of all sorts are
collected into the community of disciples. But at the end there will
be a sorting out of those who are worthless and those who have been
proven valuable, and reward and punishment will be administered
accordingly. But this time it is the angels who will make the
judgment.
d)
“Do you understand all this?”
At
the end when Jesus asks his disciples, “Do
you understand all this?” the
disciples declare that they have understood what he has taught them
in and through these parables. Jesus then responds with a saying that
describes the calling and task of everyone who desires to be his
follower in the Kingdom of Heaven. It is a matter of drawing on the
rich treasury of the past, but shaping it to apply for guidance into
the future. Jesus tells them that they will be like Scribes or men of
learning who will have ancient and modern teaching with them to give
to the hearers. The past tradition is not to be done away with, but
we can never return there to live. The future requires the past for a
firm foundation without which it will never be realized. This
balancing act is the task of each one of us who have been instructed
in the Kingdom of Heaven.
“GIVE YOUR SERVANT AN UNDERSTANDING HEART TO JUDGE YOUR PEOPLE ...”
The
First Reading from the 1st Book of Kings is clearly chosen
in view of the idea that discipleship requires a person to choose the
one thing that is most important of all. God’s offer to
grant whatever King Solomon asks for is exceptional. On the other
hand, King Solomon’s request is equally extraordinary: he eschews
wealth, longevity, and power over his enemies and simply asks for
what he needs to fulfill the mission entrusted to him by the Lord,
viz. “An understanding heart to judge your
people and to distinguish right from wrong.” In return,
the Lord God lavishly promises that Solomon will be unsurpassed in
wisdom among all the rulers of the earth. Moreover, He gave
the other things that Solomon did not ask for. As the Bible attests
Solomon governed God's people as wisely and justly as no other king
had done.
Now, when we think of
wisdom – it is much more than knowing a lot of things. Being
endowed with wisdom is much more than being just a morally very good
person. Wisdom gives an in-sight into what is truly important in
life, an awareness of the meaning and purpose of living, of what
really matters. It is an understanding of where our real well-being
and happiness lies. That is indeed a pearl of great price,
price-less in every sense of the word.
“CALLED TO BE CONFORMED TO THE IMAGE OF HIS SON.”
Acquiring
the absolute treasure entails deep sacrifice. In the Second
Reading of today from his letter to the Romans, St. Paul assures the
Christian community at Rome that 'all
things work for good for those who love God.'
He stimulates their zeal and enthusiasm in the midst of
difficulties and persecution by reminding them that God’s plan of
salvation, which is definitively in progress, leads to the glory that
is their destiny. Called to be conformed to the image of His Son,
nothing will ever happen to them that has not been foreseen by God
and directed to their greater good from all eternity. God is in
control of everything. The ultimate goal is to be configured to Jesus
Christ, who in his paschal sacrifice, was totally glorified. If
we are among the humble and obedient servants of God, those that He
foreknew, then we are among those who have been called to be
justified. We are among those who will be glorified in Jesus Christ.
CONCLUSION:
The
real or true treasure is the Kingdom of Heaven, of which Jesus speaks
in the parables today. For much of the time, we are chasing false
treasures, mainly money, status and pleasure. For much of the time we
are locked into the past - full of nostalgia or regrets, or focused
on the future - not yet achieved longings and desires, or depressing
fears and anxieties. Meanwhile the enriching present passes us by and
the treasure is never discovered and the really valuable pearl is
never found.
Today we are asked the
question, 'What is the greatest treasure in
your life?' And each one of us has to to give a personal
answer to it. The pursuit of the Reign of God necessitates an
understanding heart. A heart filled with 'wisdom'
is able to distinguish what is right from wrong, to discern what is
true and absolute from the false and, above all, to make a
fundamental option for God even to the point of most painful
sacrifice. The wisdom that makes us understand what is pleasing in
God’s eyes, also prompts us to say, “Lord,
you are my greatest treasure!” And this is the Good News
of today.
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