BASED ON CATHOLIC LITURGICAL READINGS
17TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR A
THEME: “A HIDDEN TREASURE”
((Readings: 1st: 1Kgs 3:5.7-12; Ps: 118; 2nd: Rom 8:28-30; Gos: Mt 13:44-52))
Today being the 17th Sunday in ordinary time, Jesus concludes a long series of parables and teachings about the Kingdom of God by praising those wise men and women who have listened carefully and understood his message. They have found a hidden treasure in their life. A treasure is a precious or a valuable object; something we can do all things possible just to have it. It is something you choose given thousands of alternatives.
In the times of Jesus, there was frequent wars and invasion by foreign armies and therefore people often had to flee from danger. They would bury their valuables like Jewelry, fine pearls, gold, and silver in the fields, hoping to recover them when the danger passed. The owners often did not return and their fields would be taken over by others who had no idea of a hidden treasure. Jesus tells the story of one such lucky treasure finder who sold everything he had in order to get ownership of the field. For example, the great religious treasure – Dead Sea Scrolls – discovered in the caves at Qumran in 1947 was hidden there over 2,000 years ago. Sometimes treasures remained unclaimed and forgotten, awaiting a lucky finder.
If God asked you today to mention ONE THING in your life and it shall be granted, what will you mention? Some people will request wealth, power, business, education, money, houses, cars, children, long life, and a good job because that is what they treasure in their life. It is good to know our deepest hearts desires because this determines how we live our life.
Our mother church is teaching us today that if you have found the following, then you have discovered A HIDDEN TREASURE, FINE PEARLS, A PRECIOUS THING. You are the wisest man/woman and you should sacrifice everything to have it.
- A DISCERNING HEART
In the first reading from the first book of Kings, God tests Solomon who succeeded David as a King of Israel with a very generous offer. “Ask what you would like me to give you, and I will give you.” God wanted to know the deepest desire of his heart. Solomon could have asked for long life, riches, many wives, and lives of his enemies like many of us could have done but he did not ask for any of these. Solomon asked the Lord “Give your servant an understanding heart to judge your people and to distinguish right from wrong”. He is simply requesting a mind capable of seeing what others overlook. He selflessly asks for “a heart with the skill to listen” – sensitivity in understanding his subjects’ needs, and skillful decision-making – in order to build a just society.
This request pleased God and he gave to Solomon a wise and discerning heart PLUS+ God said “I will give you also what you have not asked for- both wealth and honor- so that in your lifetime there will be no equal among the Kings.” What are the things we request from God? Do we always pray to ask for success in business? Cursing your enemies? Asking for money and cars? God does not say that these things are not necessary. Indeed, they are good but are they not drawing our attention away from God? Mt 6:21; “Wherever your treasure is, there your heart will also be”. Your prayers are not being answered perhaps because you are asking the wrong things. May the Holy Spirit teach us how to ask from God like Solomon.
- KINGDOM OF GOD
The Kingdom of God is the greatest treasure worth selling all that we have in order to possess. This treasure is of such great value that anything else we may own pales in comparison. It would be easy to give up everything else in order to have the Kingdom of God. But unlike the treasure hidden in the field, the love of Christ is a treasure everyone is invited to possess. If you know that there is absolutely nothing in this world or out of it that can separate us from the love of Christ, then you have discovered a hidden treasure in your life. Therefore, our holy mother church encourages us to pray for wisdom as Solomon did to enable us to discern the value of God´s kingdom and mysteries.
- CHRIST HIMSELF
Jesus is using these parables today to praise those wise men and women who have listened carefully and understood his message. The word of God is the treasure left for us as a guide map toward the kingdom of God. That is what St. Paul meant when he said: “I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as refuse, in order that I may gain Christ” (Philippians 3:8) and again “For me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 2:21). To have a personal experience of Christ and personal relationship with Him – in other words, to have made his view of life one’s own – is the most precious thing in the world.
If you have found Jesus in your life, then you have discovered a hidden treasure and it shall not be taken away from you. “Martha, Martha, you worry and fret about so many things, and yet few are needed, indeed only one. It is Mary who has chosen the better part, and it is not to be taken from her.” (Lk 10:42)
In brief dear friend, Jesus is teaching us to prefer the Kingdom of heaven to things of this passing world and ensure that nothing prevents us from entering it. Through all these parables, Christ reminds us of the treasure and beauty of eternal life. God´s Kingdom is a fine pearl, a treasure hidden from the wise of this world and revealed to the little like children. Therefore, “seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you.” Mt 6:33
Prayer: Give your servant an understanding heart to judge your people and to distinguish right from wrong. Amen
Fr. Antony Muchui, SVD
Blessed Sunday (Do you want to become a Divine word missionary? Contact our vocation office +255 629269140 or +254 792 299 140)
“May the heart of Jesus live in the hearts of all People. Amen”
SVD JAMBO KENTAN 