July 30, 2017

17th Sunday in Ordinary Time A 1 Kings 3-5, 7-12; Romans 8: 28-30; Matthew 13: 44-52 I was talking to two 60 + people this week who made the same statement, independent of each other. They said, ‘I just don’t know what I want to be when I grow up.’ When I was a teacher and counselor some high school students would ask, ‘Father, can you help me, I don’t know what God wants me to be?’ I responded to the students, ‘What do YOU want to be?’ I responded to the 60 somethings, ‘What do YOU want to do?’ The readings today are challenging each one of us to see our real treasures. They help us see that our greatest treasure is our true self, which is nothing other than the person that God created us to be. Reaching this goal , is the goal of discipleship and its goal is heaven. So is the path that we are on, the direct path or are we wandering too much? We begin with looking at how David became king. We remember that Saul was king, and Samuel the prophet was told by God to go to Bethlehem to the clan, the family of Jesse. God told Samuel, “How long will you grieve for Saul, whom I have rejected as king of Israel? Take a heifer along and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I myself will tell you what to do; you are to anoint for me the one I point out to you…do not judge from his appearance or from his lofty stature…not as man sees does God see, because man sees the appearance but the Lord looks into the heart.” God rejected seven of Jesse’s sons and then Samuel sent for Jesse’s youngest son, David, who was shepherding. Kingship in Israel at that time was different from other nations because they were chosen by God and not by popular acclaim or heritage. Their task was to serve God and shepherd God’s people on the right path of life. Today we can see that Solomon was on this path by the request he made. In a dream God offered to fulfill any request that Solomon had. How would we answer that request if God asked ‘I will do anything you ask for.’… Solomon knew that his role as king was to serve God. We can see this since he refers to himself twice as “your servant.” Do we ever refer ourselves to God as “your servant”? Why not? Isn’t that what we are? Solomon also states that the people are God’s people and he wants to rule them with justice and care. So often we hear that Solomon asked for wisdom…He actually said, “O Lord, my God, You have made me Your servant, king to succeed my father David; but I am a mere youth, not knowing at all how to act. I serve You in the midst of the people whom You have chosen a people so vast that it cannot be numbered or counted. Give you servant, therefore, an understanding heart to judge your people and to distinguish right from wrong. For who is able to govern this vast people of yours?” God granted his request, he will have an understanding heart. Do I have one? Do I want wisdom to be smarter or a heart that knows how to help and care and love? We can easily get sidetracked with Paul’s passage to the Romans today. Last week Paul shared that the Spirit helps us pray as we should. Today’s Paul tells us that salvation was God’s plan from the beginning. Let’s put it this way, we all have loads of worries and anxieties like: ‘Are the children safe? How will I be able to care for my aging parents? Is my job secure? Will I have enough money? How can I cope with retirement? NOW what if SOMEONE could assure you that EVERYTHING will be all right. They tell you that all your worries and difficulties will be taken care of…and God adds Because I love you! NOW if we heard this and believe it wouldn’t our actions be a whole lot different. Wouldn’t our life be changed in a totally different way? Paul is saying this today to each of us. Brothers and sisters: We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to His purpose.” God’s plan is for each of us is to be in heaven if we believe in Jesus and follow His commandments. We ask for the grace to TRUST Jesus' words. The Gospel of Matthew today contains three parables about the ‘’Kingdom of heaven.” They compel us to look at and seek after the most precious things in the world. Heaven is the goal of every person. Heaven has been promised to every person. We are to believe in God and follow His commandments. Our life is living as Jesus told us and showed us. This means struggling for those principles which alone can give our lives meaning and direction and the three parables help us in this. These three differ from the other parables on the reign or the kingdom of God. They refer to the city on a mountain, the wheat and weeds, the mustard seed, the net of fish, the great banquet, the marriage feast. All these speak of the members of the reign as a group, today’s parables are addressed to the individual. In the first two parables the person sells all he has. Both demand a giving up, a definite risk and total commitment. It’s not emphasizing the pain in the ‘giving up’ but on the tremendous value of the reward: the reign…the kingdom. Jesus gives us one more parable to help us: that of the net thrown into the sea. The net collects all sorts of fish of every kind. The lesson: there is no discrimination. All are collected and the useful are separated from the useless. There will be tolerance of both good and evil until then end. What is Jesus telling us: How precious is Heaven…How important it is to put nothing in the way of our journey to heaven. Detachment from things is a necessary consequent of attachment to Jesus. What is the meaning of life….What is true happiness: it is in discovering the meaning of life and of finding ourselves in the adventurous path of holiness. The things of this world pass away. Our loved ones pass away. Only our faith in God is with us at all times. Solomon asked for an understanding heart…God gave Him that and wisdom. Faith in God is the only treasure that remains with us when all else is gone and all other paths fail. Living the Word, Scripture Reflections and Commentaries for Sundays and Holy Days, concludes in this way. “St. Francis deSales offered a prayer for wisdom that went something like this: ‘Lord Jesus, I surrender to You. Make me a lute that You play Touch any string and allow me to make music in harmony with you.’ Faith gives us the wisdom to love as Christ loved, live as He lived, and surrender all for the greatest treasure. Therein lies wisdom at all times.” Reflect on: • Who or what is my pearl of great price? • What role does my faith play in the decisions I make, whether big or small? • How much am I willing to give for something depends and on how valuable it is to me. How much would I be willing to sacrifice for the Kingdom of God? Sacred Space 2017 states: “The parable is not inviting you to think about somebody else—some random trespasser. Jesus is inviting you to recognize where your heart is. For whom or for what would you go without everything else? Think about this hidden treasure. It inspires, enlivens, and opens horizons of new plans and dreams. Not everyone should be told about it immediately but the excitement it brings cannot always be hidden I thank God for what gives meaning to my life. Perhaps God looks at me and sees a hidden treasure, wondering when I might discover it.