17th Sunday in Ordinary Time
30th July 2023 (Sunday) Readings and Reflection
Psalter: Week 1
Reading of the Day
First Reading: 1 Kings 3:5, 7-12
In those days: At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said, “Ask what I shall give you.” And Solomon said, “O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in. And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, too many to be numbered or counted for multitude. Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?” It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. And God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you.
Psalm 119:57 and 72, 76-77, 127-128, 129-130 (R. 97a)
R/. O Lord, how I love your law
Second Reading: Romans 8:28-30
Brethren: We know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
Alleluia
V/. Alleluia R/. Alleluia
V/. Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have revealed to little children the mysteries of the kingdom.
R/. Alleluia
Gospel : Matthew 13:44-52
At that time: Jesus said to the crowds, “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind. When it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into containers but threw away the bad. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Have you understood all these things?” They said to him, “Yes.” And he said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house, who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.”
Daily Gospel Reflection
Highlight: Wisdom - the greatest treasure!
Guidlines: What makes a life worthwhile and fulfilling and what makes a person happy and satisfied is nothing of the world but only God and His wisdom given{alertSuccess}
1. God appreciates King Solomon that he made the right and the best choice. He chose wisdom to be granted by God and not money or long life or victory over enemies. It is this wisdom that endows one with clarity of sight and valuation, choice and implementation. Among many options and possibilities, wisdom is not carried away by the lesser or secondary concerns or gets entangled by them.
2. In the gospel too, it is the same wisdom that enables both the man in search of the treasure and the merchant in search of a fine pearl to make the right choice in preference to the rest of things. It is the same wisdom that chooses between the good and bad fish.
3. In the second reading too, it is the same wisdom that enables Paul to see and confirm convincingly that everything works for the good of those who love God.
4. In wisdom, all these see very clearly that God is the highest priority and He is the priceless treasure and destiny of wisdom. Wisdom enables a person to distinguish between right and wrong, to eliminate what is wrong, to appropriate what is right and to walk steadily and loyally.
5. And precisely this is what is lacking in many modern men, and that is wisdom. Intelligence and competence, knowledge and resourcefulness, tact and techniques, talent and skill, comfort and ease, and power and prestige-seeking are increasing. But unfortunately, these are not leading to wisdom. In fact, many a time these secondary components even substitute the essentials and the priorities of life.
6. Most of the time, in life we do not make the right and appropriate choices and decisions. We make eagerly and rushingly choices that are not helpful both to the self and to others. Not seldom do our decisions and choices become even detrimental to life.
7. This is all a clear dearth and lack of wisdom. It is this wisdom that realises and is convinced that in life, worldly possessions and pursuits are only secondary. The power of spiritual discernment is more important than mere intellectual sharpness. Spiritual wealth is more important than worldly riches.
8. Good life is more important than a long life. Victory over one's false self and self-deviations is more important than victory over extraneous enemies. Doing good is more important than doing great. Doing right is more important than doing bright.
9. Benevolence is more important than mere competence. Integrity of life is more important than false dignity. Fervour is more important than power. Devotion is more important than mere erudition. Dedication is more important than mere education. Edification is more important than mere qualification.
10. Love for God is more precious and important than love for the world. Consigning everything to be ordained by God is more important than organising the whole life with a sense of self-sufficiency and complacency. Surrender to God is more important than undue freedom.
11. One should realise this truth of priority and primacy of God and good over all the rest. Treasure in the field is more precious and worth searching and acquiring than all the rest of the possessions. The fine pearl is far more worth it than all the rest. The value of life is more important than the cost of living and the best test of following the right.
12. What are the treasures and pearls in our life? Are we in search of them? Do we discern their primacy and choose to strive to obtain them? Are we ready to part with the rest of the profits and gains in preference to the immense richness we experience?
Practice: Let us be always permeated with wisdom to discern so that we never lose our focus and search for treasure and pearl.{alertSuccess}