Sunday, July 28, 2002
17th Week in Ordinary Time
1st Reading: 1 K 3:5, 7-12
Yahweh appeared to Solomon in a dream and said, "Ask what you want
me to give you."
Solomon answered, O Yahweh my God, you have made your servant king in
place of David my father, although I am but a young boy who does not know
how to undertake anything. Meantime, your servant is in the midst of your
people whom you have chosen - a people so great that they can neither
be numbered nor counted.
Give me, therefore, an understanding mind in governing your people that
I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to govern this multitude
of people of yours?"
Yahweh was pleased that Solomon had made this request. And he told him,
"Because you have requested this rather than long life or wealth
or even vengeance on your enemies; indeed, because you have asked for
yourself understanding to discern what is right, I shall grant you your
request. I now give you a wise and discerning mind such as no one has
had before you nor anyone after you shall ever have."
2nd Reading: Rom 8:28-30
Brothers and sisters, we know that in everything God works for the good
of those who love him, whom he has called according to his plan. Those
whom he knew beforehand, he has also predestined to be like his Son, similar
to him, so that he may be the Firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
And so, those whom God predestined he called, and those whom he called
he makes righteous, and to those whom he makes righteous he will give
his Glory.
Gospel:
Mt 13:44-52
Jesus said to the crowds, "The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure
hidden in a field. The one who finds it buries it again; and so happy
is he, that he goes and sells everything he has, in order to buy that
field.
Again the kingdom of heaven is like a trader who is looking for fine pearls.
Once he has found a pearl of exceptional quality, he goes away, sells
everything he has and buys it."
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a big fishing net let down into
the sea, in which every kind of fish has been caught. When the net is
full, it is dragged ashore. Then they sit down and gather the good fish
in buckets, but throw the worthless ones away. That is how it will be
at the end of time; the angels will go out to separate the wicked from
the just and throw them into the blazing furnace, where they will weep
and gnash their teeth."
Jesus asked, "Have you understood all these things?" "Yes,"
they answered. So he said to them, "You will see that every teacher
of the Law who becomes a disciple of the Kingdom is like a householder
who can produce from his store things both new and old."
Commentary
A priest once told me not to worry about the book I have to read or the
word I need to hear or the person I have to meet, for in God's providence,
the book or the word or the person will come my way.
I did not believe him at first, as I thought that was a bit fatalistic.
Now through a number of events in my life, I found out that what he said
was true: God comes to us… in her/his time.
Far from being fatalistic, a dynamic between God's grace and human activity is at work here. God speaks to us as s/he manifests her/his will to us in the events of our daily life, but only if we have the eyes to see and the ears to hear.