17th Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)

 July 26, 2020

Readings:

First Reading: 1 Kings 3: 5, 7-12

Psalm 119 “Lord, I love your commands.”

Second Reading: Romans 8: 28-30

Gospel reading according to Matthew 13: 44-52

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Homily:

Bear in mind the Parable of the Weeds on last Sunday′s gospel (16^th Sunday in OT (A), July 19) as to compare the Kingdom of heaven, the gospel for today has reference from it.  In order to deepen the meaning of the parable of the weeds, Jesus explained to his disciples using another parables, the Parable of the Hidden Treasure, the Parable of Fine Pearl and the Parable of the Drag Net.   

“Jesus said to his disciples: ‵The Kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again, and out of joy goes and sell all that he has and buys that field′ . . .” (Matthew 13: 44).   Firstly, the Parable of the Hidden Treasure as represents the Kingdom of God.  Anyone who finds it is ready to leave behind or sell all what he has in exchange of this treasure.  This treasure might be faith, hope and love to the heavenly Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit which are above all important in our lives.  It is a freedom from any worldly treasure, i.e., money, power, authority, subjugation and manipulation of others that cannot last or can be eaten by moth or can be stolen by robbers.  This worldly treasure can enslaved, can oppressed others, even to do evil things just to protect and not to lose this treasure from their hands, the weeds of the evil.  As compare to the hidden treasure that last long, cannot be eaten by moth or steal but rather can give eternal life, happiness in life, and fullness of life, the seed or word of God. 

“. . . ‵Again, the Kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls.  When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sell all that he has and buys it′ . . .” Secondly, on the Parable of Fine Pearl, this also has reference to the Kingdom of God, and with similarity to the parable of the hidden treasure.  A merchant or businessman looks for some valuable pearls, not to keep them but to sell them in higher price to gain higher income from the sale.  Meaning, he has to spread this valuable pearl, which is faith, hope and love to others and in the end he will gain heaven. (Matthew 13: 45-46). 

“. . . ‵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 ad sit down to put what is good into buckets.  What is bad they throw away′ . . .” (Matthew 13: 47-48). Third and lastly, the Parable of the Drag Net.  In catching fish, we cannot expect to catch all fish perfect; most of the time, it is mixed with bad fish, fish that cannot be eaten, fish with poison.  What the fishermen did was to select the best catch of fish and the put them in the container, while the bad fish they are thrown at the seashore and die there, for if they throw them back to the sea they might be caught them again.  The same with us human beings, there are good people and bad people, hard to live with, poisonous people. What we see in this parable is that the good is selected and place in a good place, while the bad is thrown away, to suffer and die in a lonely place.

What do we understand in these parables?  What is the meaning of the Kingdom of God?

“‵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′.”  (Matthew 13: 49-50).  Jesus repeated what he said in the Parable of the Weeds, that is, “Just as weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of this age.  The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his Kingdom all who cause others to sin and all evildoers. They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.  Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the Kingdom of their Father.  Whoever has ears ought to hear′.” (Matthew 13: 36-43). 

“‵Do you understand all these things? ′ They answered, ‵Yes.′ And he replied, ‵Then every scribe who has been instructed in the Kingdom of heaven is like the head of a household who brings from his storeroom both the new and the old′.” (Matthew 13: 51-52).   As compared to the scribes and Pharisees, and not the crowds who were all-knowing but without understanding for they depended on their own knowledge and interpretation of the Laws and the Prophets of old and even of the new testament, the disciples understood the meaning of the parables of the Kingdom of heaven, because they are simple, ordinary and humble fishermen, farmers, laborers, employees, people in the streets and in the peripheries..  They can identify themselves in the parables, for they are living on it even though they were not yet called by Jesus to follow him and become fishers of men and women. 

We too can know and understand the parables of the Kingdom of heaven, not merely just in listening to them, receiving them but without understanding them or studying them and put them into action; because the parables are simple, they are stores of ordinary daily living, common to all so we can live them, understand them, and put them into action.