July 24, 2011
17th Sunday Ordinary Time
Many people are seeing Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II. Harry Potter has a choice to acquire the "deathly hallows" -- the elder wand, the resurrection stone and the cloak that makes one invisible. It would make him all powerful and invincible. He already has two of the three. Harry decides to accept death for he comes to understand that the greatest power is not a worldly power or prize but love. In our 1st Reading, King Solomon prays for an understanding heart -- not for riches or a long life. In our Gospel, Jesus tells two parables of discovering something precious: buried treasure and a pearl beyond price. When it comes to the Kingdom of Heaven we should give all to enter -- all other distractions and possessions are unequal to the gift of life in Christ. Entering into the Kingdom is indeed a gift but it demands that we embark on a quest. Literature is full of these heroic endeavors. Dorothy, the Tin Man, Scarecrow and Lion go to the Emerald City and the Great Wizard only to learn that what they seek is already given and accessible to them. During the leisure of these summer months let us discern what/who is most precious to us and give our hearts without reserve.
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16th Sunday Ordinary Time
