17th Sunday in Ordinary Time

July 30, 2017

Readings:

First Reading – 1 Kings 3:5,7-2

Psalm 119

Second Reading – Romans 8:28-30

Gospel reading according to Matthew (13:44-52)

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Homily

Jesus continued his teaching on the Reign-Kingdom of heaven using a parable.  As what we have learned about this method of teaching his disciples and the crowds using parables to fulfill what the prophet said about him last week, he used parable or storytelling “to fulfill what had been said through the prophet: I will open my mouth in parables, I will announce what has lain hidden from the foundation of the world” (Mt. 13:34-35).  Also, it is because the parable or using a storytelling is the easiest method in teaching what is hidden to the ordinary people like us. 

He said, “The Kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in the field” (Mt. 13:44).  The Kingdom of heaven is a treasure we have to long for in our lives.  We have to give values and importance to it, as our precious jewel.  But this treasure is still hidden and buried in the wide and vast field.  Nobody knows where it hidden or lay is.  You are lucky enough when you find it, “which a person finds and hides again, and out of joy goes and sell all that he has and buys the field” (Mt. 13:44). This man or woman is lucky to find in the wide and vast field the treasure hidden for a long period of time and nobody remembers it, except accidentally dug it up by this person.  Since he/she knows where it is located, so he/she covered it once more so that nobody can see it even the owner of the field.  He went home, sold all his properties and bought the field and so he has the valuable treasure and the field.  And he became rich.

This parable can be applied in our faith as Catholic Christians to Jesus Christ and his Kingdom.  Since we found the only God in our lives, we don’t need any other gods or goddesses.  Jesus is the treasure we cannot replace, for he is truly God and truly man.  Jesus saves us from our fallen nature.  He died for us on the cross.  No other gods/goddesses can become like us except Jesus.  No other gods/goddesses can laid down his/her life for his/her creatures.  No other gods/goddesses can teach his/her followers to love their enemies, pray for those who persecute us, and to lay down one’s life for his/her friends except Jesus Christ.  This treasure, this Jesus Christ humbles himself and becomes servant of all, who washed the feet of his disciples.  We sometimes do not recognize the importance of Jesus Christ as treasure in our lives, as if he is hidden or buried in the field of our life. There is no other god except Jesus who is patience enough to us sinners and forgetful listeners and slow in doing what he has commanded us.  This treasure, this God is full of mercy and compassion toward us.  He is truly a treasure we cannot afford to lose.   We have to keep this treasure in our hearts so that nobody can steal it, nobody can buy it and own it for him/herself.

The same with the second parable of the fine pearls.  Jesus said, “Again, the Kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls.  When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it” (Mt. 13: 45-46).  This fine and precious pearl is our faith we have received from our Lord Jesus Christ.  We have to do something, even to sell all that we have just to acquire and possess this fine and priceless pearl of our life.  

Jesus compared this time the Kingdom of heaven to a net, as he said: “Again, the Kingdom of heaven is like a net thrown into the sea, which collects fish of every kind.  When it is full they haul it ashore and sit down to put what is good into buckets.  What is bad they throw away” (Mt. 13:47-48).  Like a fisherman, he catches fish using his net.  In his net, he finds good and bad fishes.  He puts the good fish to the buckets and takes it home, while the bad fish he throws it away in the seashore and let it dies.  In heaven, when the judgment day comes, God will call all the children of the Kingdom, the good seed, the good fish, those who obeyed and did his commands into his Kingdom where they belonged.  While the children of the devil, the weeds, the bad fish will be thrown out into everlasting fire of Hell, for not obeying and doing God’s commands.  “Thus it will be at the end of the age.  The angels will go out and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth” (Mt. 13: 49-50).

At the end of his storytelling or parable, he asked his disciples, “Do you understand all these things” (Mt 13:51), the parables of the Kingdom of heaven from the treasure buried in the field, the fine pearl with great price to the net thrown into the sea?  These things help us to accept, deepen, and put into action the values and importance of the Reign-Kingdom of heaven into our lives as followers of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Like King Solomon in the first reading, whom the Lord God asked him to “ask something of me and I will give it to you” (1Kgs 3:5).  Instead of asking God long life, good health, wealth, power and authority, supremacy, and all earthly needs, King Solomon asked God “. . .  Give your 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?” (1Kgs. 3:7-9).  He asked for an understanding heart so that he can lead the people of God with humility, simplicity, wisdom, courage and as truly a servant-leader, a leader who serves, and he can give right judgment against the wrong done.  God has delighted to King Solomon, for he did not ask “long life for himself, nor for riches, nor for life of his enemies, but for understanding so that he may know what is right . . .” (1Kgs. 3:10-11).  God gave him “a heart so wise and understanding that there never been anyone like you up to now; and after you there will come no one equal you” (1Kgs. 3:12).  This is the Reign-Kingdom of heaven and it will be taken away from us but rather this is our reward if we do what God wants us to do and to be.

As St. Paul said to the Roman, “We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.  For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.  And those he predestined he also called; and those he called he also justified; and those he justified he also glorified” (Rom 8:28).  For the love of God, let us treasure all good things so that they will bring good results for our brothers and sisters who are in need, for the sake of Reign-Kingdom of heaven.