Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Click here to review this Sunday’s readings: http://www.usccb.org/nab/072708.shtml

This week’s readings provide us with a powerful reminder of what is of real and lasting value in our lives. Jesus tells us earlier in Matthew’s gospel that where your treasure is, so there is your heart. If we are preoccupied with amassing treasures here on earth we will miss the treasures of the spirit that are of far greater value.

In the first reading God tells Solomon to make a request and God will grant it. Solomon made the wise choice – not silver and gold, but a heart that knows right from wrong so that he could lead God’s people with wisdom. God was pleased with Solomon’s answer and blessed him with everything else besides. It is pointless to ask for long life or for riches. Despite our advances in medicine the death rate has remained the same: we will all die. Therefore, it is pointless to seek for what will perish.

The lesson of Solomon’s choice is confirmed in the second reading where St. Paul reminds us that all things work for good for those who love God. If we truly love God we will want for nothing. God will provide for us what we need in the material order, and God provides for us what we need in the spiritual order as well. If we are focused on spiritual treasure, God will provide us with the material as well. Early in the Gospel of Matthew Jesus makes this same point: “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all the rest will be given to you.”

Finally, the Gospel provides us with three parables that bring to light the concept of genuine treasure. We would pay any price for a field that contained treasure in it, or we would pay any price for the pearl of great price. Yet, what will we do to obtain the treasure of God’s kingdom of love? Will we spend everything, i.e. give our whole selves, to acquire that immense gift? If not, then the final parable of this week’s Gospel reading provides us with the consequences: those who do not seek the kingdom of God will find the fiery furnace at the Day of Judgment, while those who did seek the kingdom will find themselves in the kingdom they sought.

The image of the net being dragged across the sea is our work in the kingdom on earth. Like last week’s reading, it is not for us to separate the weeds and the wheat, nor is it for us to separate the good from the bad catch in the net. Why? We are part of that catch and we are part of that harvest. May we be found worthy to be in the kingdom on that final day.