Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
July 30, 2023
Today’s Readings:
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/073023.cfm
Today, in God’s Lavish Mercy, our readings pose an eternal question:
Are we wise enough to cherish
the treasure of God’s Kingdom?
The kind of life we live comes down to what we treasure. I won’t start a list here, but you might want to. For what do you sacrifice your time, attention, and effort? Where do you place the resources of your mind, body, and spirit?
In our first reading, Solomon has a dream in which he gets the amazing genie-like opportunity to actually name his treasure. He does so in an extremely clever prayer that woos God into acquiescence.
In the full version of this passage, Solomon has married the enemy Pharoah’s daughter, and has just finished sacrificing to false gods on the high mountain. He then falls asleep and has this dream in which he reminds God that, despite his marriage and worship practices, he is still like his ancestor David whom God loved completely for his faithfulness.
Solomon further shmoozes God by proclaiming himself an uniformed, youthful innocent who carries immense responsibilities on God’s behalf:
Now, LORD, my God, you have made me, your servant, king to succeed David my father; but I am a mere youth, not knowing at all how to act—
God falls for Solomon’s persuasions and ennobles him even beyond his request:
The LORD was pleased that Solomon made this request.
1 Kings 3:10-13
So God said to him:
“Because you have asked for this—
not for a long life for yourself,
nor for riches,
nor for the life of your enemies,
but for understanding so that you may know what is right—
I do as you requested.
I give you a heart so wise and understanding
that there has never been anyone like you up to now,
and after you there will come no one to equal you.”
In our second reading from Romans, Paul assures us that God already has in place for us the will and design for our good. We don’t have to make a wish in a dream the way Solomon did, nor proclaim ourselves patterned on the heritage of David.
Our salvation is accomplished in the person of Jesus Christ:
We know that all things work for good for those who love God,
Romans 8:28-29
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 sisters.
In our Gospel, Jesus reminds us that, although God has predestined a plan for our salvation, we must choose to participate in it. Finding the “treasure” should give us incomparable joy. Finding the “pearl” should impel us to give everything for its possession.
The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field,
Matthew 13:44
which a person finds and hides again,
and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
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.
History tells us that Solomon had his challenges holding on to the treasures granted in his dream. Paul offers his advice in Romans 8 to encourage the early Christians suffering persecution for the sake of their spiritual treasures. Jesus emphasizes that everybody find or hold on to their pearls until the end of time.
We can infer from these three facts that finding the pearl isn’t enough. Preserving its integrity and beauty is the work of a faithful lifetime.
Poetry: The Bright Field – R.S. Thomas
I have seen the sun break through
to illuminate a small field
for a while, and gone my way
and forgotten it. But that was the
pearl of great price, the one field that had
treasure in it. I realise now
that I must give all that I have
to possess it. Life is not hurrying
on to a receding future, nor hankering after
an imagined past. It is the turning
aside like Moses to the miracle
of the lit bush, to a brightness
that seemed as transitory as your youth
once, but is the eternity that awaits you.
Music: Treasure in a Field – Dan Schutte, sung by Josephina Albuquerque, RJM
Lavish Mercy 