July 26, 2020
17th Sunday Ordinary
God comes to Solomon in a dream and asks the young King what he wants from God. He is son of the Shepherd King David. Big sandals to fill. He can request a long life, great wealth, or victory over his enemies. But Solomon, a mere youth, asks God for an understanding heart, literally a “listening heart.†In the twilight when I fall asleep, in my dreams, what would I ask of God? What would you request?
I remember a young man asking me to pray for/with him that he would meet the right girl. He was asking God for this favor like young Solomon. He was making the request of God that he would meet the right woman, fall in love, and grow spiritually together. He was expressing the confidence of St. Paul in his letter to the Romans that “we know … all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose… and who are conformed to the image of Christâ€
In the Gospel according to St. Matthew Jesus tells parables or illustrations about the Kingdom of Heaven by referring to familiar things: a farmer sowing seeds; wheat and weeds; a tiny mustard seed; and a woman baking bread. Today Jesus “beads†three more parables together: finding buried treasure; discovering a priceless pearl; and casting a net into the sea.
The first two parables are similar. “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again, and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys the field.†In a land often torn by war and overrun by scavenging armies, the ground becomes the best place to hide one’s valuables. “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls. When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it.†We can imagine a person’s joy and excitement in finding buried treasure or discovering a pearl of great price. We can imagine someone doing everything possible to obtain the treasure or to buy the pearl. Reflecting, we come to appreciate the deeper meaning of what Jesus is saying. The hidden treasure is the Gospel of the Kingdom. The magnificent pearl within the oyster is Jesus. The first two parables speak of the joy of those disciples, whether by finding or searching, who come to possess something/someone truly precious.
The third parable of the net cast into the sea brings a note of judgment, that is, the sorting out when the full net is hauled ashore. The fresh edible fish are tossed into buckets and what is bad, undesirable, is thrown away. At the end of the age, Angels of God will sort things out. Then there will be great joy and great regret.
During these challenges days of pandemic, unemployment and civil discord when the dignity of the human person is threatened, we need to ask God for the gift of wisdom, an understanding heart, to search for meaning and purpose, to strive for peace, to discern what is true and what is false, to heal, and to discover who/what is truly precious.
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16th Sunday Ordinary
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18th Sunday Ordinary A
