HOMILY OF SUNDAY IN THE 17TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR A
1 Kings 3:5,7-12, Romans 8:28-30, Matthew 13:44-52
THEME: KNOWING WHAT MATTERS.
The crux of life lies not in what we possess, but in our ability to skillfully manage what we have been given.
In the first reading, when God appeared to King Solomon in a dream and offered him a wish, Solomon humbly requested nothing but wisdom to govern his kingdom. To his humble request, God replied,
“Since you have asked for this’ the Lord said ‘and not asked for long life for yourself or riches or the lives of your enemies, but have asked for a discerning judgement for yourself, here and now I do what you ask. I give you a heart wise and shrewd as none before you has had and none will have after you.”
Our lives do not consist in what we have, but how we use it. We need wisdom to manage our resources, and talents. This applies to our spiritual life, spiritual gifts without the fruits of the Holy Spirit will amount to a wasted life. We need virtues to exercise our gifts lest, because of pride we cross our boundaries.
Furthermore, the true significance lies not in the abundance of what we possess, but rather in the divine favor and grace upon our actions and endeavors. In the second reading, Paul writes,
“We know that by turning everything to their good, God co-operates with all those who love him, with all those he has called according to his purpose. They are the ones he chose specially long ago and intended to become true images of his Son, so that his Son might be the eldest of many brothers. He called those he intended for this; those he called he justified, and with those he justified he shared his glory” Romans 8:28-30
Those who belong to the household of God, he has given a special privilege of making exploits, not by our merits, but by his grace which works in us, as people who love him and submit to his will.
Being with God is the ultimate. He gives us the capacity to manage our engagements in the world. All we need is a total reliance on him; we must cherish our union with him above every other thing. Jesus puts it more wisely in the gospel when he compares the kingdom of heaven to a treasure hidden in a field which someone has found; he hides it again, goes off happy, sells everything he owns and buys the field.
As the Lord would say, “seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” Matthew 6:33.
As we put God first in our daily endeavours, may his wisdom guide us to our ultimate fulfillment. Amen.
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