For Love of The Kingdom
Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A (30/07/2023)
(1 Kings 3:5, 7-12; Psalm 119:57, 72, 76-77, 127-128, 129-130; Romans 8:28-30; Matthew 13:44-52)
Fr. Samuel Odeh
“We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).
Every Christian believer should prefer nothing whatsoever to Christ Jesus. As a Christian believer, nothing should be more important in my life than the relationship I have with Christ Jesus. In our first reading today, Solomon, who had just taken over as king from his father David, asked God for the gift of an understanding mind and judging rightly between good and evil that he may govern Israel, the people of God, wisely. He asked God for what he needed and not for his wants, but God granted him both. As Jesus tells us, “..seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well” (Matthew 6:33). Or as the Psalm said today, “The unfolding of your word gives light and understanding to the simple”. Just like Solomon, we also should ask God for the gifts of an understanding mind and knowing clearly the difference between good and evil. If this happens for us, the kingdom of heaven would truly have taken over our lives.
The gifts of an understanding mind and knowing clearly the difference between good and evil are also illustrated in today’s gospel reading from the Gospel according to Matthew by means of three parables. The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field and the joy of discovering it makes one willing to sell all they have so that they can buy that entire field. The kingdom of heaven is also like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who upon discovering a pearl of great value, goes and sells all his possessions and buys it. Some preachers say that Jesus is himself the pearl of great value. In the third parable, the kingdom of heaven is like a fishing net that brought in all kinds of fish from the sea and fishermen sorted out the good fish from the bad fish.
What are some of the things we treasure and value most in our lives? Have we discovered the message of Christ to be as precious as treasure hidden in a field or as a pearl of great value or even as a fisherman’s net? Are we in the clear about good and evil or are we confused and see only grey and shady areas? Do we factor in God’s loving care and plan for us in our pursuit of the good things of this life or do we sometimes forget them? “We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). As we pursue our goals in life, as we pursue success, it is easy to forget that God himself can make a blessing come out of a trying and challenging difficulty. God can make good come out of a bad situation if we let him. God himself has a purpose and plan for our lives. We must make an attempt to prioritize God’s plan and purpose for us as well as his power over our lives. Paul tells us in today’s second reading from his letter to the Romans that we have already received the blessing of being formed and molded in the image of Jesus, the Son of God, through the grace we received at Baptism. “For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the first-born among many brethren” (Romans 8:29). The kingdom of heaven is truly at hand; it is near at hand indeed. May we continue to discover the precious nature of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. May the joy of that discovery influence our life’s work for God and neighbor. May the joy of the Gospel be the power and engine behind our service to God and to our brothers and sisters.
Lord Jesus, may your kingdom come.
