1 Kings 3:5, 7–12; Psalm 119; Romans 8:28–30; Matthew 13:44–52
I Seek Wisdom, Not Riches
Dear friends, today we celebrate the 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time. Our theme for reflection is “I Seek Wisdom, Not Riches.”
In today’s first reading, God says to Solomon: “Ask what I should give you.” These are words anyone would be delighted to hear. If God were to ask us today what we desire most, what would our answer be?
When you ask little children what they want, they usually ask for what they lack or what they admire most. A child from a poor family who has no shoes may ask for shoes. A hungry child will ask for food. A child from a wealthy family who already has everything may ask for the latest toys or gadgets seen on television or the internet. Some children are remarkably imaginative. One child once told me, “I would like to have all the knowledge contained in books so that I would never have to go to school again.”
Adults are often no different. Many would ask for financial success, wealth, influence, or powerful positions. Some even pray that God would punish or destroy their enemies, forgetting that they too may be considered enemies by someone else.
Sadly, our world has made many people despise hard work and perseverance. It constantly promotes shortcuts to wealth and success. Yet these shortcuts rarely bring lasting happiness. Instead, they corrupt our values and often enslave us. We see this in gambling, fraud, theft, dishonest business practices, borrowing money without any intention of repaying it, and many other forms of dishonesty. Even some self-proclaimed preachers promise instant prosperity through so-called miracle packages. Others have fallen into serious financial difficulties after borrowing from exploitative and unregulated lenders.
There is a saying that reminds us: “We often desire what we do not need and fail to appreciate what we already have.”
King Solomon teaches us a different path. When God offered him anything he desired, Solomon did not ask for riches, long life, or victory over his enemies. Instead, he asked for the greatest gift of all—wisdom.
Biblical wisdom is much more than intelligence or education. It is the ability to understand God’s ways, to discern what is right, and to make good decisions. A wise person knows how life works according to God’s plan. With wisdom, one can acquire wealth and use it responsibly. Without wisdom, even great riches can quickly disappear, and one’s life may be ruined.
In the second reading, St. Paul reminds us that God works for the good of those who love Him and gradually transforms them into the image of His Son. Scripture also tells us that “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” and that “Wisdom is better than gold” (Proverbs 16:16). When God guides our lives, we have every reason to trust Him.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus presents several parables that illustrate the incomparable value of the Kingdom of God. The man who discovered treasure hidden in a field could have stolen it and risked punishment. He could have informed the owner and received nothing in return. Instead, he made the wise decision to purchase the field legally, thereby acquiring the treasure honestly.
Likewise, the merchant who found a pearl of great price immediately recognized its value. Without hesitation, he sold everything he owned to obtain it because he knew it was worth far more than all his possessions.
These two men teach us that true wisdom recognizes what is genuinely valuable. If we truly understood the value of living our Christian faith and following Christ wholeheartedly, we too would willingly “sell everything” to possess that treasure.
Of course, Jesus is not necessarily asking us to sell our material possessions. Rather, He invites us to let go of everything that prevents us from entering God’s Kingdom: sinful habits, harmful traditions, hatred, unforgiveness, unhealthy attachments, selfish ambitions, and every vice that distances us from God.
However, we can only appreciate the value of our faith if we are properly formed in it. Many baptized Christians have never received adequate catechesis. As a result, they remain passive believers rather than committed disciples. They may never fully experience the joy of following Christ in this life and may even endanger their eternal salvation. Each of us should honestly ask ourselves: How committed am I to my faith?
The Kingdom of God is priceless. Yet we often find excuses for not committing ourselves fully to our Christian vocation. Some attend Mass only when it is convenient. Others participate merely to maintain appearances rather than to encounter God in prayer. Many avoid joining Small Christian Communities or parish ministries. Volunteer service in the Church attracts only a few.
Ironically, while we consider time spent in Church or Small Christian Communities as wasted, we readily devote countless hours to activities that contribute little to our spiritual growth—frequent parties, excessive drinking, endless hours on TV or social media or video games, gossip, and many other distractions.
These choices reveal where our priorities truly lie. They show whether our wisdom comes from God or from the world. Sadly, worldly wisdom often leads us slowly but surely away from the life God desires for us.
Finally, Jesus reminds us that although the Kingdom of God is open to everyone, not everyone will enter it. Like the fishing net that gathers fish of every kind, the final judgment will involve a separation. The good fish are kept; the worthless are discarded.
Within every Christian community there are people of every kind. Our responsibility is not to judge others but to remain faithful to Christ ourselves. If we persevere in living the values of God’s Kingdom, we can confidently hope to be counted among those who are found worthy.
Dear friends, the world offers many attractive things, but not everything that is attractive leads to salvation. Let us therefore ask God today for the wisdom to recognize what truly matters, to choose what leads to eternal life, and to remain faithful to Christ above all else.
May God grant us the wisdom of Solomon, the courage of Christ, and the grace to choose the treasure of His Kingdom above every earthly possession.
Have a wise and blessed Sunday.
Fr. Lawrence Muthee, SVD
SVD JAMBO KENTAN 