17th Sunday of Ordinary Times

Readings for:17th Sunday of Ordinary Times, Year A

Reading 1   1 Kings 3:5, 7-12   

Psalm          Psalm 119:57, 72, 76-77, 127-128, 129-130 

Reading 2   Romans 8:28-30 

Gospel        Matthew 13:44-52    

REFLECTIONS:… from Father Daniel     

Theme of this Sunday: The Courage to Sell Off Everything. The first reading and the Gospel are joined by the theme of search for treasure. For King Solomon the greatest treasure was the wisdom to enable him to govern his people well. For us the treasure is the Kingdom of God. Whoever discovers it is determined to change their whole life to have it. The second reading tells us that God directs everything so that we may have the courage to make the right choice when challenging options are put before us. 

How do you find something you’re not looking for? You don’t. In today’s Gospel parables, both men found something they were looking for and did what they had to buy it. They maintain that it is the reign of God’s Kingdom that really counts. This reign is characterized as a treasure in a field or a pearl of great price. And, in order to find it, we must be looking for it. We must know what it looks like. We must learn to recognize it. We must, like Solomon, ask the Lord to give us discerning hearts. Jesus is telling us that the kingdom of heaven is worth more than all we possess. Everything we possess has an expiration date stamped on it. God’s Kingdom, however, will last forever. Those who possess it know its value and are filled with joy when they find it. Both parables challenge us to be willing to sell everything we have that this treasure may be ours. Because, in the end only three things matter: how much you loved; how gently you lived, and how gracefully you let go of things not meant for you.