*HOMILY FOR JULY 26 2020 SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR A*
1 Kings 3: 5, 7-12; Psalm 119: 57, 72, 76-77, 127-128, 129-130; Romans 8: 28-30; Matthew 13: 44-52
*STRIVE TO GET THE HIDDEN TREASURE OF GOD*
Today’s readings speak of the gifts which accompany being part of God’s Kingdom. In the First Reading, Solomon, as the new King of Israel, is asked what gift he would like to receive from God so that he might reign over the kingdom. He asks for an understanding heart (wisdom). WISDOM IS THE HIDDEN TREASURE. Many rulers would have selfishly sought wealth, fame, long reign, victory over their enemies. Solomon requests the gift of an understanding heart (wisdom) so that he might wisely govern and lead the people God has entrusted him to rule. In ancient Israel thought, the heart was the source of thinking and decisions. God respects and even praises Solomon for asking for wisdom. God gives him wisdom and, through the exercise of wisdom, Solomon will receive other gifts including riches, expansion of the kingdom, long reign, and suppression of his enemies. Solomon received the gift of wisdom at that time, but it took many years and a lot of hard work to see the fullness of God’s plan in Solomon’s life. Yet the gift of wisdom helped him wait for the fulfillment of God’s promises.
The Responsorial Psalm focuses on the wisdom of God’s precepts. It proclaims the wisdom of God in giving the divine precepts and laws to the people of God. It also is an affirmation of the blessings received by those who wisely follow God’s ways. God’s plans are what we should chose, even if they do not fully correspond with our understanding.
In the Second Reading, St. Paul speaks about the wisdom we possess if we start to understand God’s plan in the midst of our suffering; the wisdom of understanding that God can make good flow even from the worst situations in which we find ourselves, because God loves us and will make things work out for our good (the Good as God sees it).
In the Gospel, Jesus speaks about the wisdom of those who seek to put themselves under God’s kingdom, and the price they must pay to be in God’s kingdom. Jesus relates three parables in the Gospel. Each of them speaks about the price of being a part of God’s kingdom. It takes wisdom and costly choices on the part of those who want to be a part of God’s Kingdom. It means giving up all other values in order to be a part of God and the divine plan. Solomon gave up all. This is why he requested for no other thing, except the hidden treasure.
Dearly beloved, allowing God to take possession of our lives is both demanding and rewarding. It is not something which comes easy or without a price. If we really want to be part of God’s plan, it means we have to have wisdom. It is the wisdom that will lead us to make right choices. Sometimes we focus on our own suffering and problems and do not see that God is at work even in, and especially during, those difficult times in our lives. God loves us and wants us to be a part of the divine plan. God’s plan for us is to be in the Kingdom of God, to be sharing as royal heirs in God’s kingdom. As we experience those rough times and want to sell out to a life of leisure or pleasure, God promises us a rich reward in the divine Reign.
The Lord Jesus says it will take a full commitment on our part. We must be willing to give up all the things that we hold as valuable in order to buy into this treasure beyond all other treasures. It means that in the face of difficulties, we will have to fully trust in the Lord, believing that God will make everything turn out right in the end. It also means we have to be patient in order to see the fulfillment of God’s plan. We want everything right now. Yet God is saying to us: “Be patient! Be wise! Hold on! I have gifts for you beyond your wildest imagination!”
As we travel through the trying times of life we are tempted to say (or even come right out and say): “God, give it to me now. I can’t wait. I can’t understand why you are not giving me the fullness of your gifts right now.” That attitude manifests our selfish, personal desires. That is when we must have wisdom and patience, two attitudes which allow us to look beyond our personal, selfish desires and see God and others and how we interact with them. We need divine wisdom to understand this.
The message of the readings for me is that God loves me. God is offering to me a share in the divine Reign. I must be willing to choose the correct paths. I need God’s wisdom. I will have to make sacrifices, and maybe even suffer, but God will make all those difficulties well worth my suffering. God has a plan and will make it work out, if I am willing to be wise and patient.
*MEDITATION* If I will be given opportunity like Solomon to make choice, what will I choose? In what areas of my life could I benefit from being more patient? How can I help reassure others that God is with them in every situation?
*PRAYER* Lord God, you invite us to buy into Your plan and be willing to give up all we have in order to be a part of Your plan. Through Your Holy Spirit, give us wisdom and patience so that we can wait for the fulfillment of Your plans, knowing that Your plan will be accomplished. Strengthen us especially during the trying times in our lives, such as we are experience with the pandemic which has struck the world. Through Christ Jesus Our Lord. Amen.
© Rev Utazi Prince Marie Benignus SFDPM
1 Kings 3: 5, 7-12; Psalm 119: 57, 72, 76-77, 127-128, 129-130; Romans 8: 28-30; Matthew 13: 44-52
*STRIVE TO GET THE HIDDEN TREASURE OF GOD*
Today’s readings speak of the gifts which accompany being part of God’s Kingdom. In the First Reading, Solomon, as the new King of Israel, is asked what gift he would like to receive from God so that he might reign over the kingdom. He asks for an understanding heart (wisdom). WISDOM IS THE HIDDEN TREASURE. Many rulers would have selfishly sought wealth, fame, long reign, victory over their enemies. Solomon requests the gift of an understanding heart (wisdom) so that he might wisely govern and lead the people God has entrusted him to rule. In ancient Israel thought, the heart was the source of thinking and decisions. God respects and even praises Solomon for asking for wisdom. God gives him wisdom and, through the exercise of wisdom, Solomon will receive other gifts including riches, expansion of the kingdom, long reign, and suppression of his enemies. Solomon received the gift of wisdom at that time, but it took many years and a lot of hard work to see the fullness of God’s plan in Solomon’s life. Yet the gift of wisdom helped him wait for the fulfillment of God’s promises.
The Responsorial Psalm focuses on the wisdom of God’s precepts. It proclaims the wisdom of God in giving the divine precepts and laws to the people of God. It also is an affirmation of the blessings received by those who wisely follow God’s ways. God’s plans are what we should chose, even if they do not fully correspond with our understanding.
In the Second Reading, St. Paul speaks about the wisdom we possess if we start to understand God’s plan in the midst of our suffering; the wisdom of understanding that God can make good flow even from the worst situations in which we find ourselves, because God loves us and will make things work out for our good (the Good as God sees it).
In the Gospel, Jesus speaks about the wisdom of those who seek to put themselves under God’s kingdom, and the price they must pay to be in God’s kingdom. Jesus relates three parables in the Gospel. Each of them speaks about the price of being a part of God’s kingdom. It takes wisdom and costly choices on the part of those who want to be a part of God’s Kingdom. It means giving up all other values in order to be a part of God and the divine plan. Solomon gave up all. This is why he requested for no other thing, except the hidden treasure.
Dearly beloved, allowing God to take possession of our lives is both demanding and rewarding. It is not something which comes easy or without a price. If we really want to be part of God’s plan, it means we have to have wisdom. It is the wisdom that will lead us to make right choices. Sometimes we focus on our own suffering and problems and do not see that God is at work even in, and especially during, those difficult times in our lives. God loves us and wants us to be a part of the divine plan. God’s plan for us is to be in the Kingdom of God, to be sharing as royal heirs in God’s kingdom. As we experience those rough times and want to sell out to a life of leisure or pleasure, God promises us a rich reward in the divine Reign.
The Lord Jesus says it will take a full commitment on our part. We must be willing to give up all the things that we hold as valuable in order to buy into this treasure beyond all other treasures. It means that in the face of difficulties, we will have to fully trust in the Lord, believing that God will make everything turn out right in the end. It also means we have to be patient in order to see the fulfillment of God’s plan. We want everything right now. Yet God is saying to us: “Be patient! Be wise! Hold on! I have gifts for you beyond your wildest imagination!”
As we travel through the trying times of life we are tempted to say (or even come right out and say): “God, give it to me now. I can’t wait. I can’t understand why you are not giving me the fullness of your gifts right now.” That attitude manifests our selfish, personal desires. That is when we must have wisdom and patience, two attitudes which allow us to look beyond our personal, selfish desires and see God and others and how we interact with them. We need divine wisdom to understand this.
The message of the readings for me is that God loves me. God is offering to me a share in the divine Reign. I must be willing to choose the correct paths. I need God’s wisdom. I will have to make sacrifices, and maybe even suffer, but God will make all those difficulties well worth my suffering. God has a plan and will make it work out, if I am willing to be wise and patient.
*MEDITATION* If I will be given opportunity like Solomon to make choice, what will I choose? In what areas of my life could I benefit from being more patient? How can I help reassure others that God is with them in every situation?
*PRAYER* Lord God, you invite us to buy into Your plan and be willing to give up all we have in order to be a part of Your plan. Through Your Holy Spirit, give us wisdom and patience so that we can wait for the fulfillment of Your plans, knowing that Your plan will be accomplished. Strengthen us especially during the trying times in our lives, such as we are experience with the pandemic which has struck the world. Through Christ Jesus Our Lord. Amen.
© Rev Utazi Prince Marie Benignus SFDPM
Comments
Post a Comment