Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 109
Lectionary: 109
The LORD appeared
to Solomon in a dream at night.
God said, “Ask something of me and I will give it to you.”
Solomon answered:
“O LORD, my God, you have made me, your servant, king
to succeed my father David;
but I am a mere youth, not knowing at all how to act.
I serve you in the midst of the people whom you have chosen,
a people so vast that it cannot be numbered or counted.
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?”
The LORD was pleased that Solomon made this request.
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.”
God said, “Ask something of me and I will give it to you.”
Solomon answered:
“O LORD, my God, you have made me, your servant, king
to succeed my father David;
but I am a mere youth, not knowing at all how to act.
I serve you in the midst of the people whom you have chosen,
a people so vast that it cannot be numbered or counted.
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?”
The LORD was pleased that Solomon made this request.
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.”
Responsorial Psalm PS 119:57, 72, 76-77, 127-128, 129-130
R/ (97a) Lord, I love your commands.
I have said, O LORD, that my part
is to keep your words.
The law of your mouth is to me more precious
than thousands of gold and silver pieces.
R/ Lord, I love your commands.
Let your kindness comfort me
according to your promise to your servants.
Let your compassion come to me that I may live,
for your law is my delight.
R/ Lord, I love your commands.
For I love your command
more than gold, however fine.
For in all your precepts I go forward;
every false way I hate.
R/ Lord, I love your commands.
Wonderful are your decrees;
therefore I observe them.
The revelation of your words sheds light,
giving understanding to the simple.
R/ Lord, I love your commands.
I have said, O LORD, that my part
is to keep your words.
The law of your mouth is to me more precious
than thousands of gold and silver pieces.
R/ Lord, I love your commands.
Let your kindness comfort me
according to your promise to your servants.
Let your compassion come to me that I may live,
for your law is my delight.
R/ Lord, I love your commands.
For I love your command
more than gold, however fine.
For in all your precepts I go forward;
every false way I hate.
R/ Lord, I love your commands.
Wonderful are your decrees;
therefore I observe them.
The revelation of your words sheds light,
giving understanding to the simple.
R/ Lord, I love your commands.
Reading 2ROM 8:28-30
Brothers and
sisters:
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 sisters.
And those he predestined he also called;
and those he called he also justified;
and those he justified he also glorified.
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 sisters.
And those he predestined he also called;
and those he called he also justified;
and those he justified he also glorified.
Gospel MT 13:44-52
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 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.
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.
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.
“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.”
“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 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.
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.
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.
“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.”
Or MT 13:44-46
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 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.”
“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 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.”
Scripture Study
July 27, 2014 - 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time
FIRST READING: 1 Kings 3: 5; 7-12. At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon
in a dream by night; and God said "Ask what I shall give you." And
Solomon said, "O Lord my God, thou hast made thy servant king in place of
David my father, although I am but a little child; I do not know how to go out
or come in. And thy servant is in the midst of thy people whom thou hast
chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered or counted for multitude. Give
thy servant therefore an understanding mind to govern thy people, that I may
discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this thy great
people?"
It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. And God said to him, "Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you."
EXPLANATION: Solomon succeeded David as King in Jerusalem in the year 970 B.C. His mother Bethsheba and the prophet Nathan persuaded the aged David to appoint him rather than his elder brother, Adonijah. During his 38 years on the throne, Solomon built the temple of Yahweh in Jerusalem and a beautiful palace for himself. He developed friendly relations with the neighboring pagan nations; and trade and commerce flourished under his wise direction. Later Jewish traditions credited him with a wisdom which surpassed that of any other sage of any land. While we can perhaps allow for some exaggeration caused by national pride here, the verses we have, just read rightly give the credit to God for whatever wisdom Solomon possessed. But it must not be forgotten either, that Solomon in his humility asked God for this so that he might govern wisely, rather than for any material or political gain for himself.
At Gibeon: Gibeon, most probably the present-day Nebi Samivil, six miles north-west of Jerusalem, was an Israelite place of worship ever since the days of the Judges (1 Sm. 7 : 5). The Tent of the Meeting and the altar of sacrifice, were kept there in David's time (1 Ch. 16: 39; 21: 39), so it was a legitimate place of worship until the temple was built.
in a dream by night: God often made use of dreams to communicate with his chosen ones (Gn. 20: 3; 28: 12; Jgs. 7: 13).
Ask . . . you give: In such a dream he gave Solomon a choice of gifts.
Solomon said: The young king realizes how inexperienced he is in governing a kingdom.
a people . . . numbers: The population of Israel at the time is reckoned at about 800,000, but to Solomon and to his contemporaries this number was a huge multitude.
govern the people: He seeks from God "an understanding mind," so that he could always do what was just and best for his subjects.
Because . . . this: The Lord is pleased that Solomon thought of the good of his subjects rather than any personal benefit like long life, or riches, or victory over his enemies, and therefore:
I now . . . your word: God will not only grant him wisdom to govern his people, but will make him the wisest man that ever lived or ever will live. The dream, of course, lost nothing in its telling by Solomon, nor in the retelling of his much later by historians.
APPLICATION: What particular gift would each one of us ask of God if he spoke to us in a dream tonight and gave us our choice? There are so many pressing needs which we will have at the moment. Many would ask for badly needed health for themselves or for some close relatives. Others would ask for financial help, just to pay off debts and keep the family in comfort, not riches but just enough. Others would wish to be spared to their family for many long years. Some, not many, would ask for the virtue of temperance for themselves, while many would want that virtue for their husbands or sons.
But those who would ask for the gift of true wisdom to govern their earthly lives according to justice and charity would, I fear, be a small percentage. And yet that is the only gift that has eternal value. It is even greater than the gift Solomon asked for and got. He wanted the wisdom to govern others, but he failed pretty badly in governing his own personal life. The really wise man wants to make a success of his own personal life, but that can only be done by regulating his living according to the wisdom God has enshrined in his revelation to us.
If we got all the other gifts mentioned above---a healthy, long life for ourselves and all in the family, a life of comfort free from all financial cares, a life of peace and temperance in the home, with all the other earthly blessings that we think we need thrown in, would the ending of our life-story be necessarily a happy one?
We all like a story to end happily. We do not mind how many scrapes and tight shaves our hero has during the course of the story, but we want him to come out a success in the end. Surely, there is no story of greater interest, or of greater importance to us, than our own life-story, and there can be no story whose happy ending could be more desirable. There is only one happy ending for the story of our life on earth, and it is the attainment of heaven when we die.
If we lived on earth for 200 years, if we never had an ache or pain in that time, if we had all the riches of this world, and all the comforts imaginable which those riches could buy for us, and a life of perpetual peace and plenty, but if we failed to reach heaven what a sad and irreparable conclusion our life-story would have!
Wisdom is the gift we all need---wisdom greater than that of Solomon---the wisdom to govern and direct our own lives according to God's laws. God will not refuse this gift if we ask for it. And having got it we must use it. We are surrounded on all sides by worldly wisdom---the opposite of what we need. Today, more than ever perhaps, the stress is on the present---what we can get out of this life. The future life is either denied or ignored. A future there is, and try to forget it as we may, it is drawing nearer daily to each one of us. On the entrance gates of the city cemetery of Rome this truthful inscription stands out in its awful truth: "Hodie mihi cras tibe"--- "today my fate is decided, tomorrow yours." We can decide our fate today before it is too late. Will we?
SECOND READING: Romans 8: 28-30. We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the first-born among many brethren. And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified.
EXPLANATION: In the readings from St. Paul, which you have heard during the past seven Sundays, the Apostle has been telling the Roman converts to Christianity how vastly superior to the Jewish religion is their Christian religion. The former was only a preparation for the coming of Christ. Now that Christ has come, the preparatory stage has ended. The shadow fades before the reality. The Mosaic Law did not, and could not, give eternal life. Christ's death and resurrection alone could and did.
Christians, therefore, are sure of that eternal life, if they remain faithful to their vocation. Today's three verses tell us that God is doing his part (and will continue to do it), to bring all who accept Christ to glory, that is, to eternal happiness when they end their earthly life.
in everything . . . good: All God's plans for the human race are for the happiness and perfection of men---as Paul says, "in everything God works for good." He created them and gave them gifts which made them superior to all other earthly creatures, so that they would have eternal life. He made the attainment of that eternal life possible for them, through the Incarnation, which made them brothers of Christ, adopted sons of God.
those who love him: Man must do his part. He has a free will and must show his appreciation of all that God has done for him by thanking God and loving him.
who are called: All men are "called," have received the invitation, to eternal life (and the means of attaining it), but they must love God in order to reach that happy end.
those . . . foreknew: God is eternal, there is no past or future to him. A million years ago, he saw us as we are now and as we will be at the end of our life. He knows from eternity those who will love him and those who will not, but this foreknowledge does not mean any restriction on their freedom of action. God wills that all men should have eternal happiness but, because men are free agents, he cannot make them will to earn that eternal happiness.
conformed . . . his son: The Son of God became man so that we could become sons of God. Through his Incarnation, Christ elevated human nature to the status of adopted sonship with God. Christ in his human nature is the "first-born," the first to rise from the dead and enter into eternal happiness. All those who accept him and live accordingly will follow him into that eternal happiness---they will become, as it were, other Christs.
Those he predestined: Those he forsaw as explained above.
called . . . glorified: His will was that all men should make proper use of the gifts he gave them, and the necessary means were available to all. But in his eternal knowledge he saw those who would use their gifts and accept his aid, and who would therefore follow Christ in this life and die in his peace and love "justified", so reaching eternal glory.
APPLICATION: St. Augustine says, "God created us without our consent or cooperation but he will not (and cannot) save us without our cooperation." This is clear from what St. Paul tells us today. God has done, and continues to do, everything that is necessary to bring us to heaven when we die. However, unless we cooperate and do our part, heaven will not be our future abode.
This should make each one of us stop and think! Are we on the right road? Are we truly followers of Christ? Do we love God? Are our prevailing ambitions worldly or other-worldly? We have to take an interest in the affairs of this world but do all our interests end there? Do the ten commandments of God always govern and direct our conduct, or are they often trampled on in our mad rush for some temporal pleasure or gain?
These are questions every Christian should put to himself and honestly answer. We are living in an era which is daily growing more worldly and more anti-God and anti-Christian. On all sides of us we have bad example, a strong-rushing current of worldliness and immorality, a current difficult to avoid or swim against. But avoid it we must if we really have our real and eternal welfare at heart. What is more, if we love our fellowman as our Christian faith obliges us to do, we must do all in our power to lead them out of that fatal current and bring them to safety with us. We must be life-guards.
There is a future life, revelation tells us, and our reasoning demands it. That future life will be one of eternal happiness for those who strive to love God in this life, and eternal unhappiness for those who refuse to do this. Ask yourself this question: "If I were to die tonight, to which class would I like to belong?" Tonight may not be the night of our departure from this life, but that departure is nearer to us than any of us think, and the state of our conscience at the moment of our death may depend on the resolutions we make today.
Nobody, not even God himself, can give us eternal life. We must earn it for ourselves. Our Christian faith tells us how.
GOSPEL: Matthew 13: 44-52. Jesus said to the crowds, "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net which was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind; when it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into vessels but threw away the bad. So it will be at the close of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous, and throw them into the furnace of fire; there men will weep and gnash their teeth.
"Have you understood all this?" They said to him, "Yes." And he said to them, "Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old."
EXPLANATION: In this chapter, St. Matthew has a collection of seven parables ("earthly stories with heavenly meanings") spoken by our Lord, probably on different occasions. Teaching through parables was a method commonly practiced by the Jewish rabbis of that time. In the three parables read today, the first two describe the kingdom of heaven as worth more than all the treasures of this earth. The third teaches that accepting Christ or calling him "Lord, Lord," will not merit heaven. "Doing the will of his father," is necessary for salvation.
treasure . . . field: In a country frequently overrun by invaders it was not unusual for people to bury their gold and other precious possessions in tombs, in caves or in the fields when an invader was approaching. It often happened that the owner was killed or disappeared and all knowledge of the hidden treasure disappeared with him. The Dead Sea Scrolls recently found in caves at Qumran were hidden there over 2,000 years ago.
hid it: It is evident that the discoverer was working in another man's field when he found the treasure. To gain legal possession he buys the field from the other. It is also clear that the owner of the field did not own the treasure, or he would not have sold the field. Whether he had more moral right to the treasure is another question, but all the material points of a parable are not set up by a teacher for praise or imitation. In favor of the discoverer is the fact that he did not take away the treasure secretly: instead he bought the field, evidently in order to get legal and honest possession of it.
sells . . . has: This is the lesson, all else that this man had he considered as nothing compared with this treasure. So likewise the kingdom of heaven---the following of Christ to heaven---is incomparably of greater value than all the riches, power and pleasures of this world.
merchant . . . search of pearls: In the previous example the discoverer came on the treasure accidentally, the next example the merchant is actually searching for a treasure. Perhaps the former represent the Gentiles who were not expecting or looking for Christ, while the Jews were, like this merchant, looking forward to his coming.
sold . . . had: Again the same appreciation of what had been found---it was worth more than all other possessions.
every Scribe: Addressing the Apostles who tell him they have understood the lesson of his parables, he tells them they will be "scribes," men of learning, who will have ancient (Old Testament) and modern (Christ's) teaching to give to their hearers. This is exactly what the Apostles did.
APPLICATION: The lesson of these two parables is as true for us today, as it was for those Palestinians to whom Christ spoke. All Christians are called on to imitate these two wise men, and surrender all their earthly possessions if necessary in order to gain eternal life. Does this "giving all" mean that we are all expected to abandon the world and take on the religious vows of poverty, chastity and obedience? There are many who do just this. But it is not the only way, nor the normal way, to purchase the eternal treasure. Heaven is within the reach of all, who follow the ordinary vocations of life and partake of this world's joys and pleasures within the framework of God's commandments, but never lose sight of the goal toward which they are moving.
Keeping within the framework of God's commandments is the difficulty. We need not have a vow of obedience, but we must obey all legitimate authority. We may possess the goods of this world, but only such goods as we lawfully and justly acquire. Nor may we withhold all of these from a fellowman who is in need. We do not have to take a vow of chastity, but yet we must be chaste, we must use the gifts and the pleasure of sex only within the limits set down by God's wise laws.
All of this is not easy for human nature. But we are not relying on weak human nature, we have within our reach in the Church all the spiritual and supernatural aids we need. Our twentieth century, it is true, is so engrossed in chasing after the earthly comforts and pleasures of the body, and so devoid of any spiritual or other-worldly outlook, that even those who know and believe that there is an eternity after death, find it hard to allow their faith and convictions to govern and direct their daily actions. Yet, the evil example of others will never justify our wrong-doing. The commandments of God are still binding, even though they are openly and flagrantly violated by individuals and whole nations today.
Remember this: we shall not be asked at the judgment, "What did your neighbor do?", but "what did you do?" If we lose the pearl of great price in the eternity of happiness God has offered to us---it will not be the fault of others. The fault will be ours and ours only. We refuse to pay the price. We did not think it worthy the "paltry all" which we possessed in this life.
It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. And God said to him, "Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you."
EXPLANATION: Solomon succeeded David as King in Jerusalem in the year 970 B.C. His mother Bethsheba and the prophet Nathan persuaded the aged David to appoint him rather than his elder brother, Adonijah. During his 38 years on the throne, Solomon built the temple of Yahweh in Jerusalem and a beautiful palace for himself. He developed friendly relations with the neighboring pagan nations; and trade and commerce flourished under his wise direction. Later Jewish traditions credited him with a wisdom which surpassed that of any other sage of any land. While we can perhaps allow for some exaggeration caused by national pride here, the verses we have, just read rightly give the credit to God for whatever wisdom Solomon possessed. But it must not be forgotten either, that Solomon in his humility asked God for this so that he might govern wisely, rather than for any material or political gain for himself.
At Gibeon: Gibeon, most probably the present-day Nebi Samivil, six miles north-west of Jerusalem, was an Israelite place of worship ever since the days of the Judges (1 Sm. 7 : 5). The Tent of the Meeting and the altar of sacrifice, were kept there in David's time (1 Ch. 16: 39; 21: 39), so it was a legitimate place of worship until the temple was built.
in a dream by night: God often made use of dreams to communicate with his chosen ones (Gn. 20: 3; 28: 12; Jgs. 7: 13).
Ask . . . you give: In such a dream he gave Solomon a choice of gifts.
Solomon said: The young king realizes how inexperienced he is in governing a kingdom.
a people . . . numbers: The population of Israel at the time is reckoned at about 800,000, but to Solomon and to his contemporaries this number was a huge multitude.
govern the people: He seeks from God "an understanding mind," so that he could always do what was just and best for his subjects.
Because . . . this: The Lord is pleased that Solomon thought of the good of his subjects rather than any personal benefit like long life, or riches, or victory over his enemies, and therefore:
I now . . . your word: God will not only grant him wisdom to govern his people, but will make him the wisest man that ever lived or ever will live. The dream, of course, lost nothing in its telling by Solomon, nor in the retelling of his much later by historians.
APPLICATION: What particular gift would each one of us ask of God if he spoke to us in a dream tonight and gave us our choice? There are so many pressing needs which we will have at the moment. Many would ask for badly needed health for themselves or for some close relatives. Others would ask for financial help, just to pay off debts and keep the family in comfort, not riches but just enough. Others would wish to be spared to their family for many long years. Some, not many, would ask for the virtue of temperance for themselves, while many would want that virtue for their husbands or sons.
But those who would ask for the gift of true wisdom to govern their earthly lives according to justice and charity would, I fear, be a small percentage. And yet that is the only gift that has eternal value. It is even greater than the gift Solomon asked for and got. He wanted the wisdom to govern others, but he failed pretty badly in governing his own personal life. The really wise man wants to make a success of his own personal life, but that can only be done by regulating his living according to the wisdom God has enshrined in his revelation to us.
If we got all the other gifts mentioned above---a healthy, long life for ourselves and all in the family, a life of comfort free from all financial cares, a life of peace and temperance in the home, with all the other earthly blessings that we think we need thrown in, would the ending of our life-story be necessarily a happy one?
We all like a story to end happily. We do not mind how many scrapes and tight shaves our hero has during the course of the story, but we want him to come out a success in the end. Surely, there is no story of greater interest, or of greater importance to us, than our own life-story, and there can be no story whose happy ending could be more desirable. There is only one happy ending for the story of our life on earth, and it is the attainment of heaven when we die.
If we lived on earth for 200 years, if we never had an ache or pain in that time, if we had all the riches of this world, and all the comforts imaginable which those riches could buy for us, and a life of perpetual peace and plenty, but if we failed to reach heaven what a sad and irreparable conclusion our life-story would have!
Wisdom is the gift we all need---wisdom greater than that of Solomon---the wisdom to govern and direct our own lives according to God's laws. God will not refuse this gift if we ask for it. And having got it we must use it. We are surrounded on all sides by worldly wisdom---the opposite of what we need. Today, more than ever perhaps, the stress is on the present---what we can get out of this life. The future life is either denied or ignored. A future there is, and try to forget it as we may, it is drawing nearer daily to each one of us. On the entrance gates of the city cemetery of Rome this truthful inscription stands out in its awful truth: "Hodie mihi cras tibe"--- "today my fate is decided, tomorrow yours." We can decide our fate today before it is too late. Will we?
SECOND READING: Romans 8: 28-30. We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the first-born among many brethren. And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified.
EXPLANATION: In the readings from St. Paul, which you have heard during the past seven Sundays, the Apostle has been telling the Roman converts to Christianity how vastly superior to the Jewish religion is their Christian religion. The former was only a preparation for the coming of Christ. Now that Christ has come, the preparatory stage has ended. The shadow fades before the reality. The Mosaic Law did not, and could not, give eternal life. Christ's death and resurrection alone could and did.
Christians, therefore, are sure of that eternal life, if they remain faithful to their vocation. Today's three verses tell us that God is doing his part (and will continue to do it), to bring all who accept Christ to glory, that is, to eternal happiness when they end their earthly life.
in everything . . . good: All God's plans for the human race are for the happiness and perfection of men---as Paul says, "in everything God works for good." He created them and gave them gifts which made them superior to all other earthly creatures, so that they would have eternal life. He made the attainment of that eternal life possible for them, through the Incarnation, which made them brothers of Christ, adopted sons of God.
those who love him: Man must do his part. He has a free will and must show his appreciation of all that God has done for him by thanking God and loving him.
who are called: All men are "called," have received the invitation, to eternal life (and the means of attaining it), but they must love God in order to reach that happy end.
those . . . foreknew: God is eternal, there is no past or future to him. A million years ago, he saw us as we are now and as we will be at the end of our life. He knows from eternity those who will love him and those who will not, but this foreknowledge does not mean any restriction on their freedom of action. God wills that all men should have eternal happiness but, because men are free agents, he cannot make them will to earn that eternal happiness.
conformed . . . his son: The Son of God became man so that we could become sons of God. Through his Incarnation, Christ elevated human nature to the status of adopted sonship with God. Christ in his human nature is the "first-born," the first to rise from the dead and enter into eternal happiness. All those who accept him and live accordingly will follow him into that eternal happiness---they will become, as it were, other Christs.
Those he predestined: Those he forsaw as explained above.
called . . . glorified: His will was that all men should make proper use of the gifts he gave them, and the necessary means were available to all. But in his eternal knowledge he saw those who would use their gifts and accept his aid, and who would therefore follow Christ in this life and die in his peace and love "justified", so reaching eternal glory.
APPLICATION: St. Augustine says, "God created us without our consent or cooperation but he will not (and cannot) save us without our cooperation." This is clear from what St. Paul tells us today. God has done, and continues to do, everything that is necessary to bring us to heaven when we die. However, unless we cooperate and do our part, heaven will not be our future abode.
This should make each one of us stop and think! Are we on the right road? Are we truly followers of Christ? Do we love God? Are our prevailing ambitions worldly or other-worldly? We have to take an interest in the affairs of this world but do all our interests end there? Do the ten commandments of God always govern and direct our conduct, or are they often trampled on in our mad rush for some temporal pleasure or gain?
These are questions every Christian should put to himself and honestly answer. We are living in an era which is daily growing more worldly and more anti-God and anti-Christian. On all sides of us we have bad example, a strong-rushing current of worldliness and immorality, a current difficult to avoid or swim against. But avoid it we must if we really have our real and eternal welfare at heart. What is more, if we love our fellowman as our Christian faith obliges us to do, we must do all in our power to lead them out of that fatal current and bring them to safety with us. We must be life-guards.
There is a future life, revelation tells us, and our reasoning demands it. That future life will be one of eternal happiness for those who strive to love God in this life, and eternal unhappiness for those who refuse to do this. Ask yourself this question: "If I were to die tonight, to which class would I like to belong?" Tonight may not be the night of our departure from this life, but that departure is nearer to us than any of us think, and the state of our conscience at the moment of our death may depend on the resolutions we make today.
Nobody, not even God himself, can give us eternal life. We must earn it for ourselves. Our Christian faith tells us how.
GOSPEL: Matthew 13: 44-52. Jesus said to the crowds, "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net which was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind; when it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into vessels but threw away the bad. So it will be at the close of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous, and throw them into the furnace of fire; there men will weep and gnash their teeth.
"Have you understood all this?" They said to him, "Yes." And he said to them, "Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old."
EXPLANATION: In this chapter, St. Matthew has a collection of seven parables ("earthly stories with heavenly meanings") spoken by our Lord, probably on different occasions. Teaching through parables was a method commonly practiced by the Jewish rabbis of that time. In the three parables read today, the first two describe the kingdom of heaven as worth more than all the treasures of this earth. The third teaches that accepting Christ or calling him "Lord, Lord," will not merit heaven. "Doing the will of his father," is necessary for salvation.
treasure . . . field: In a country frequently overrun by invaders it was not unusual for people to bury their gold and other precious possessions in tombs, in caves or in the fields when an invader was approaching. It often happened that the owner was killed or disappeared and all knowledge of the hidden treasure disappeared with him. The Dead Sea Scrolls recently found in caves at Qumran were hidden there over 2,000 years ago.
hid it: It is evident that the discoverer was working in another man's field when he found the treasure. To gain legal possession he buys the field from the other. It is also clear that the owner of the field did not own the treasure, or he would not have sold the field. Whether he had more moral right to the treasure is another question, but all the material points of a parable are not set up by a teacher for praise or imitation. In favor of the discoverer is the fact that he did not take away the treasure secretly: instead he bought the field, evidently in order to get legal and honest possession of it.
sells . . . has: This is the lesson, all else that this man had he considered as nothing compared with this treasure. So likewise the kingdom of heaven---the following of Christ to heaven---is incomparably of greater value than all the riches, power and pleasures of this world.
merchant . . . search of pearls: In the previous example the discoverer came on the treasure accidentally, the next example the merchant is actually searching for a treasure. Perhaps the former represent the Gentiles who were not expecting or looking for Christ, while the Jews were, like this merchant, looking forward to his coming.
sold . . . had: Again the same appreciation of what had been found---it was worth more than all other possessions.
every Scribe: Addressing the Apostles who tell him they have understood the lesson of his parables, he tells them they will be "scribes," men of learning, who will have ancient (Old Testament) and modern (Christ's) teaching to give to their hearers. This is exactly what the Apostles did.
APPLICATION: The lesson of these two parables is as true for us today, as it was for those Palestinians to whom Christ spoke. All Christians are called on to imitate these two wise men, and surrender all their earthly possessions if necessary in order to gain eternal life. Does this "giving all" mean that we are all expected to abandon the world and take on the religious vows of poverty, chastity and obedience? There are many who do just this. But it is not the only way, nor the normal way, to purchase the eternal treasure. Heaven is within the reach of all, who follow the ordinary vocations of life and partake of this world's joys and pleasures within the framework of God's commandments, but never lose sight of the goal toward which they are moving.
Keeping within the framework of God's commandments is the difficulty. We need not have a vow of obedience, but we must obey all legitimate authority. We may possess the goods of this world, but only such goods as we lawfully and justly acquire. Nor may we withhold all of these from a fellowman who is in need. We do not have to take a vow of chastity, but yet we must be chaste, we must use the gifts and the pleasure of sex only within the limits set down by God's wise laws.
All of this is not easy for human nature. But we are not relying on weak human nature, we have within our reach in the Church all the spiritual and supernatural aids we need. Our twentieth century, it is true, is so engrossed in chasing after the earthly comforts and pleasures of the body, and so devoid of any spiritual or other-worldly outlook, that even those who know and believe that there is an eternity after death, find it hard to allow their faith and convictions to govern and direct their daily actions. Yet, the evil example of others will never justify our wrong-doing. The commandments of God are still binding, even though they are openly and flagrantly violated by individuals and whole nations today.
Remember this: we shall not be asked at the judgment, "What did your neighbor do?", but "what did you do?" If we lose the pearl of great price in the eternity of happiness God has offered to us---it will not be the fault of others. The fault will be ours and ours only. We refuse to pay the price. We did not think it worthy the "paltry all" which we possessed in this life.
Meditation: The surpassing treasure of God's kingdom
What do you treasure the most and how do you keep it from being
lost or stolen? In a peasant community the best safe was often the
earth. The man in the parable (Matthew 13:44) "went in his joy" to
sell everything. Why? Because he found a treasure worth possessing above all
else he had. He did not, however, have enough to buy the treasure. Fortunately,
he only needed enough to buy the field. In a similar fashion, God offers his
kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy (Romans 14:17) as incomparable
treasure at a price we can afford! We can't pay the full price for the life
which God gives us; but when we exchange our life for the life which God
offers, we receive a treasure beyond compare.
Obtaining the greatest possible treasure
The pearl of great price also tells us a similar lesson. Pearls in the ancient world came to represent the supremely valuable. Jesus remarked that one should not cast pearls before swine (Matthew 7:6). Why would a merchant sell everything for a peerless pearl? No doubt because he was attracted to what he thought was the greatest treasure he could possess. Discovering God's kingdom is like stumbling across hidden treasure or finding the one pearl of great price.
The pearl of great price also tells us a similar lesson. Pearls in the ancient world came to represent the supremely valuable. Jesus remarked that one should not cast pearls before swine (Matthew 7:6). Why would a merchant sell everything for a peerless pearl? No doubt because he was attracted to what he thought was the greatest treasure he could possess. Discovering God's kingdom is like stumbling across hidden treasure or finding the one pearl of great price.
When we discover the kingdom of God we receive the greatest
possible treasure - the Lord himself. Selling all that we have to obtain this
incomparable treasure could mean many things - our friends, job, our
"style of life", what we do with our free time. Treasure has a
special connection to the heart, the place of desire and longing, the place of
will and focus. The thing we most set our heart on is our highest treasure. In
this parable what does the treasure of the kingdom refer to? It certainly
refers to the kingdom of God in all its aspects. But in a special way, the Lord
himself is the treasure we seek for. If the Almighty is your gold and
your precious silver, then you will delight yourself in the Almighty (Job
22:22- 23). Is the Lord the treasure and delight of your heart?
God draws us into his kingdom
What can a story of a dragnet and a great catch of fish tell us about God's kingdom? The two most common ways of fishing in Jesus' time was with a casting-net (or hand-net) which was thrown from the shore and the drag-net or trawl which was let down or cast into the waters from a boat. As the boat moved through the waters the drag-net was drawn into the shape of a great cone which indiscriminately took in all kinds of fish and flotsam and jetsam swept in its path. It usually took several men to haul such a net to shore.
What can a story of a dragnet and a great catch of fish tell us about God's kingdom? The two most common ways of fishing in Jesus' time was with a casting-net (or hand-net) which was thrown from the shore and the drag-net or trawl which was let down or cast into the waters from a boat. As the boat moved through the waters the drag-net was drawn into the shape of a great cone which indiscriminately took in all kinds of fish and flotsam and jetsam swept in its path. It usually took several men to haul such a net to shore.
What is Jesus' point here? Just as a drag-net catches every kind
of fish in the sea, so the church acts as God's instrument for gathering in all
who will come. Just as the drag-net does not or cannot discriminate, so the
church does not discriminate between the good and the bad, the useless and the
useful. God's kingdom is open to all who will accept and believe. But there
will come a time of separation, at the close of the age, when the
angels will send the good and the bad to their respective destinations. Our
task is to gather in all who will come. God, in the end, will give the good
(those who accept and follow Christ) and the bad (those who refuse Christ) the
reward they deserve. God offers the treasure of his kingdom to all who believe
in Christ. Do you hunger for God and for his kingdom of righteousness, peace,
and joy?
Training for God's kingdom
When Jesus had finished speaking about his parables, he turned to his disciples and asked them, "Have you understood all this?" (Matthew 13:52). Jesus asks us the same question. If we want to understand the meaning and significance of the parables for our daily lives, then we must reflect and think through what the Lord is saying to us through his instruction. The Holy Spirit is our guide and teacher who helps us to grow in understanding of God's word in the Scriptures.
When Jesus had finished speaking about his parables, he turned to his disciples and asked them, "Have you understood all this?" (Matthew 13:52). Jesus asks us the same question. If we want to understand the meaning and significance of the parables for our daily lives, then we must reflect and think through what the Lord is saying to us through his instruction. The Holy Spirit is our guide and teacher who helps us to grow in understanding of God's word in the Scriptures.
Importance of readying and studying God's word
What is the point of Jesus' parable about a "scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 13:52)? Scribes were specially devoted to the study and practice of God's word entrusted to Moses (the first five books of the Bible) and in instructing others in how to live according to it. In the Old Testament Ezra was called "the ready scribe of the law of the God of heaven" (Book of Ezra 7:6,21). He received this title because he "had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments" (Ezra 7:10). Ezra's heart was set on the kingdom of heaven because he revered God's word and he taught others through example and instruction to love and obey God's word.
What is the point of Jesus' parable about a "scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 13:52)? Scribes were specially devoted to the study and practice of God's word entrusted to Moses (the first five books of the Bible) and in instructing others in how to live according to it. In the Old Testament Ezra was called "the ready scribe of the law of the God of heaven" (Book of Ezra 7:6,21). He received this title because he "had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments" (Ezra 7:10). Ezra's heart was set on the kingdom of heaven because he revered God's word and he taught others through example and instruction to love and obey God's word.
The old and new treasures of God's word
Why does Jesus compare a "trained scribe" with a "householder who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old" (Matthew 13:52)? Some people love to store up old prized possessions along with their newly acquired prizes. Others are eager to get rid of the old to make room for the new. So why does Jesus seem to emphasize keeping the old along with the new? Why not replace the old, especially if the new seems to be better or more useful? Wouldn't a person want to throw away an old pair of shoes and replace them with a new pair - especially if the old pair became well-worn or torn beyond repair? But, who in his right mind would throw away an old precious jewel or some old gold coins simply because they were ancient and maybe tarnished a bit? Precious gems and gold do not lose their value with age!
Why does Jesus compare a "trained scribe" with a "householder who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old" (Matthew 13:52)? Some people love to store up old prized possessions along with their newly acquired prizes. Others are eager to get rid of the old to make room for the new. So why does Jesus seem to emphasize keeping the old along with the new? Why not replace the old, especially if the new seems to be better or more useful? Wouldn't a person want to throw away an old pair of shoes and replace them with a new pair - especially if the old pair became well-worn or torn beyond repair? But, who in his right mind would throw away an old precious jewel or some old gold coins simply because they were ancient and maybe tarnished a bit? Precious gems and gold do not lose their value with age!
Like choice vintage wine they increase in value. Jesus' parable
of the "old" and the "new" certainly points to the
"older covenants" which God made with his covenanted people of the
Old Testament, beginning with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and with Moses on
Mount Sinai, and with King David the precursor of the Messiah (Psalm 89:3 and
Psalm 110:1). Jesus' parable also points to the "new covenant" which
he came to establish through the shedding of his blood on the cross and the
anointing of his Holy Spirit who seals the new covenant on the day of
Pentecost. Jesus did not come to abolish the Old Covenant but to fulfill it.
The Lord calls us to treasure all of his word - all of his commandments,
promises, precepts, and teaching (Psalm 119:14,72,127,162). Do you promise to
keep all of God's commands? The Lord gives strength, blessing, and joy to those
who treasure all of his word.
We would be impoverished today if we only possessed the treasures
of the word of God in the "Old Testament" Scriptures or if we only
knew the treasures of the "New Testament" Scriptures. Both the Old
and New Testament Scriptures are given by the same eternal Father, inspired by
the same eternal Holy Spirit, and fulfilled by the same eternal Word, the Lord
Jesus Christ, who was with the Father from the beginning and who was sent from
heaven to take on human flesh for our salvation (John 1:1-3,14).
Unity of the Old and New Testaments
There is a profound unity between the Old and New Testaments. Both are divinely inspired by one and the same Spirit (2 Timothy 3:16). The Old Testament prepares for the New and the New Testament fulfils the Old - the two shed light on each other. The Old Testament prepared the way for the coming of Jesus Christ as the redeemer of all who would be saved through his sacrifice on the cross. The New Testament lies hidden in the Old and the Old Testament is unveiled in the New. That is why Jesus interpreted the Old Testament Scriptures for his disciples and explained how he came to fufill what was promised and foreshadowed in the Old (Luke 24:27). That is why we read the Old Testament in the light of Christ’s saving death and resurrection. Do you revere the word of God in the Scriptures - both old and new - and see their fulfillment in the Lord Jesus Christ?
There is a profound unity between the Old and New Testaments. Both are divinely inspired by one and the same Spirit (2 Timothy 3:16). The Old Testament prepares for the New and the New Testament fulfils the Old - the two shed light on each other. The Old Testament prepared the way for the coming of Jesus Christ as the redeemer of all who would be saved through his sacrifice on the cross. The New Testament lies hidden in the Old and the Old Testament is unveiled in the New. That is why Jesus interpreted the Old Testament Scriptures for his disciples and explained how he came to fufill what was promised and foreshadowed in the Old (Luke 24:27). That is why we read the Old Testament in the light of Christ’s saving death and resurrection. Do you revere the word of God in the Scriptures - both old and new - and see their fulfillment in the Lord Jesus Christ?
"Lord Jesus, may your word take deep root in my heart and
transform my way of thinking, discerning, and acting. May your Spirit open my
ears to hear and understand the word of God in the Scriptures that I may revere
and treasure both the Old and the New Testaments which God has prepared for all
who desire to enter his kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy. Help me to be
a diligent student and faithful disciple of your word."
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Christ´s Kingdom: the Path to Joy
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July 27, 2014. Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
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Matthew 13: 44-52
"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a
field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all
that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a
merchant in search of fine pearls; on finding one pearl of great value, he
went and sold all that he had and bought it. Again, the kingdom of heaven is
like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind; when
it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but
threw out the bad. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come
out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the furnace
of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Have you
understood all this?" They answered, "Yes." And he said to
them, "Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of
heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what
is new and what is old."
Introductory Prayer: Lord, I come into your presence seeking to know you
better. I believe that you take the lead in seeking me. You want me to find
you. I trust that in your mercy you will bring me to intimacy with you. I
open my heart today to receive your friendship.
Petition: Lord, help me to strive for the for the Kingdom of
heaven for myself and others.
1. The Treasure of the Kingdom: “From the fullness
of the heart the mouth speaks” (Luke 6:45). Christ’s heart overflows with
irrepressible zeal for the Kingdom of heaven. He longs for everyone who hears
him to fall in love with that Kingdom. “His descriptions of the Kingdom flow
from his lips like water over a waterfall — his vision is so rich and vibrant
that language itself can barely contain it” (Fr. John Bartunek, LC, The
Better Part, 184). At times we stumble upon the Kingdom of heaven almost
by accident, like the treasure in the field. But we know that treasure is
worth more than all the earthly fields we can ever hope to possess. Other
times we make a long and diligent search before encountering the Kingdom, like
the pearl of great price. Its beauty captivates our hearts.
2. The Joy of the Kingdom: Though the Kingdom of heaven sparkles
like a many-faceted gem, one feature always shines forth: Discovering it
fills the heart with joy. Have we ever caught a glimpse of the Kingdom? It is
there in the ardent vigor of thousands of young people acclaiming
Pope-Emeritus Benedict at World Youth Day. It is there in the reverent
silence of a lone adorer in a Eucharistic chapel. It is there in the enduring
strength of present-day mothers such as Saint Gianna Beretta Molla, who give
up their lives for their unborn children. The Kingdom of heaven is worth
everything and demands everything. Have we sold all we possess in order to
attain it? What still holds us back? What earthly plots do we still cling to,
fearing to sell them for a treasure beyond what we dare hope for?
3. “Weeping and Gnashing of Teeth”: The Kingdom of
heaven is also like a net thrown into the sea. Not all that the net collects
is worth keeping. So, too, not everyone enters into the Kingdom. What a
sudden contrast to the joy of the Kingdom that pervades the first two images!
Why does Christ include this third and final description of the Kingdom? He
knows how easy it is for us to forget the most important truths of our lives:
the reality of the last judgment, for which we should be preparing at every
moment. Christ knows that the stakes are high, and we need to be reminded of
them in order to have the courage to sell everything to reach the Kingdom.
“The teaching of the Church affirms the existence of hell and its eternity” (Catechism
of the Catholic Church, 1035). Let us continue to pray and
sacrifice, so that one day we and all the souls entrusted to us will arrive
to the eternal joys of the Kingdom of heaven.
Conversation with Christ: Lord, I want to be generous and give up everything for the sake of your Kingdom in my life and in the lives of those souls entrusted to me. You know that I cannot do so on my own. Help me with your grace to be generous.
Resolution: I will be open to the inspirations of the Holy Spirit in
responding to the opportunities to bring someone closer to Christ’s Kingdom
today.
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SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, JULY 27,
MATTHEW 13:44-52
(1 Kings 3:5, 7-12; Psalm 119; Romans 8:28-30)
(1 Kings 3:5, 7-12; Psalm 119; Romans 8:28-30)
KEY VERSE: "The kingdom of heaven is like a net which was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind" (v 47).
READING: Jesus taught his disciples about the mystery of God's reign by means of parables (Hebrew, mashal). As future leaders of the Church, Jesus' disciples must interpret these ancient truths in the light of the gospel, and proclaim the eternal reign of God. Sacrificing everything for the sake of the kingdom was central to Jesus' teaching in Matthew's gospel (Mt 6:33). The world attracted with its artificial "treasures" -- wealth, power and prestige, but these would eventually pass away. Jesus' disciples were to "store up treasure in heaven," that which was of inestimable value and would last for eternity (6:19-20). Wherever their "treasure" was, there also was their hearts (6:21). Jesus also compared God's work to a dragnet cast into the sea, which brought forth both the "worthwhile" and the "useless." Likewise, God's judgment would ultimately reveal what was good and evil in the world.
REFLECTING: What do I most esteem as my treasure?
PRAYING: Lord Jesus, help me to discern between the world's lures and the values of your kingdom.
MINUTE MEDITATIONS
Through Mary’s Eyes
Many Christians are confused as to why Catholics honor Mary the
way that we do. She is different, however. She was set apart. One of the
greatest things a Christian can do is to contemplate the life of Christ through
Mary’s eyes. As we see in sacred Scripture, she pondered things “in her heart”
(Luke 2:19).
Lord, I love your commands
The hidden treasure. The pearl. The net.Do the parables make it easier for us to understand what heaven is like? Metaphors can help clarify a subject. The kingdom of heaven is a mystery to the crowds surrounding Jesus, but he tries to help them grasp its reality by explaining situations they, and we, can relate to. We would ‘sell everything’ to claim the greater hidden treasure or the precious pearl. The net separates good from evil. These images represent heaven as the most exquisite discovery, supreme wealth, profound joy, and absolute justice. Jesus, you are the master teaching your children. No sophisticated equipment—just simple stories about our eternal homeland. We may catch sporadic moments of heaven on earth, but every person yearns for more. We want to become citizens of paradise!
July
27
Blessed Antonio Lucci
(1682-1752)
Blessed Antonio Lucci
(1682-1752)
Antonio studied with and was a friend of St. Francesco Antonio
Fasani, who after Antonio Lucci’s death testified at the diocesan hearings
regarding the holiness of Lucci.
Born in
Agnone in southern Italy, a city famous for manufacturing bells and copper
crafts, he was given the name Angelo at Baptism. He attended the local school
run by the Conventual Franciscans and joined them at the age of 16. Antonio
completed his studies for the priesthood in Assisi, where he was ordained in
1705. Further studies led to a doctorate in theology and appointments as a
teacher in Agnone, Ravello and Naples. He also served as guardian in Naples.
Elected
minister provincial in 1718, the following year he was appointed professor at
St. Bonaventure College in Rome, a position he held until Pope Benedict XIII
chose him as bishop of Bovino (near Foggia) in 1729. The pope explained,
"I have chosen as bishop of Bovino an eminent theologian and a great
saint."
His 23
years as bishop were marked by visits to local parishes and a renewal of gospel
living among the people of his diocese. He dedicated his episcopal income to
works of education and charity. At the urging of the Conventual minister
general, Bishop Lucci wrote a major book about the saints and blesseds in the
first 200 years of the Conventual Franciscans.
He was
beatified in 1989, three years after his friend Francesco Antonio Fasani was
canonized.
Comment:
As Pope Paul VI wrote in 1975, people today "are more impressed by witnesses than by teachers, and if they listen to these it is because they also bear witness" (Evangelization in the Modern World, #41).
As Pope Paul VI wrote in 1975, people today "are more impressed by witnesses than by teachers, and if they listen to these it is because they also bear witness" (Evangelization in the Modern World, #41).
Quote:
When Francis of Assisi learned that Anthony of Padua was teaching theology to the friars in Bologna, Francis wrote: "It pleases me that you teach sacred theology to the brothers, as long as—in the words of the Rule—you do not extinguish the spirit of prayer and devotion with study of this kind."
When Francis of Assisi learned that Anthony of Padua was teaching theology to the friars in Bologna, Francis wrote: "It pleases me that you teach sacred theology to the brothers, as long as—in the words of the Rule—you do not extinguish the spirit of prayer and devotion with study of this kind."
LECTIO DIVINA:
17TH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME (A)
Lectio:
Sunday, July 27, 2014
hree parables of the Kingdom of God
Discovering the signs of God in daily life
Matthew 13:44-52
Discovering the signs of God in daily life
Matthew 13:44-52
1.
OPENING PRAYER
Lord Jesus, send your Spirit to help us read
the Scriptures with the same mind that you read them to the disciples on the
way to Emmaus. In the light of the Word, written in the Bible, you helped them
to discover the presence of God in the disturbing events of your sentence and
death. Thus, the cross that seemed to be the end of all hope became for them
the source of life and of resurrection.
Create in us silence so that we may listen to your voice in Creation and in the Scriptures, in events and in people, above all in the poor and suffering. May your word guide us so that we too, like the two disciples from Emmaus, may experience the force of your resurrection and witness to others that you are alive in our midst as source of fraternity, justice and peace. We ask this of you, Jesus, son of Mary, who revealed to us the Father and sent us your Spirit. Amen.
Create in us silence so that we may listen to your voice in Creation and in the Scriptures, in events and in people, above all in the poor and suffering. May your word guide us so that we too, like the two disciples from Emmaus, may experience the force of your resurrection and witness to others that you are alive in our midst as source of fraternity, justice and peace. We ask this of you, Jesus, son of Mary, who revealed to us the Father and sent us your Spirit. Amen.
2. READING
a) A division of the text as an aid to the
reading:
Matthew 13:44: The parable of the hidden
treasure
Matthew 13:45-46: The parable of the merchant looking for precious pearls
Matthew 13:47-50: The parable of the dragnet cast into the sea
Matthew 13:51-52: A parable to conclude the discourse of the parables
Matthew 13:45-46: The parable of the merchant looking for precious pearls
Matthew 13:47-50: The parable of the dragnet cast into the sea
Matthew 13:51-52: A parable to conclude the discourse of the parables
b) A key to the reading:
On this 17th Sunday of
ordinary time we meditate on the three parables that make up the final section
of the Discourse of the Parables: the hidden treasure, the
merchant of precious pearls and the dragnet cast into the sea. Jesus’ parables
help us adjust our sight to better see the presence of the Kingdom of God in
the most ordinary things of life. As we read, it would be good to keep in mind
the following: “What is for me a hidden treasure, a merchant of precious pearls
or a dragnet cast into the sea? How does my experience help me understand the
parables of the treasure, of the pearl and of the dragnet?”
c) The Text:
44 'The kingdom of Heaven is like treasure
hidden in a field which someone has found; he hides it again, goes off in his
joy, sells everything he owns and buys the field. 45 'Again, the kingdom of
Heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls; 46 when he finds one of
great value he goes and sells everything he owns and buys it.
47 'Again, the kingdom of Heaven is like a
dragnet that is cast in the sea and brings in a haul of all kinds of fish. 48 When
it is full, the fishermen bring it ashore; then, sitting down, they collect the
good ones in baskets and throw away those that are no use. 49 This is how it
will be at the end of time: the angels will appear and separate the wicked from
the upright, 50 to throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be
weeping and grinding of teeth.
51 'Have you understood all these?' They said, 'Yes.' 52 And he said to them, 'Well then, every scribe who becomes a disciple of the kingdom of Heaven is like a householder who brings out from his storeroom new things as well as old.'
51 'Have you understood all these?' They said, 'Yes.' 52 And he said to them, 'Well then, every scribe who becomes a disciple of the kingdom of Heaven is like a householder who brings out from his storeroom new things as well as old.'
3.
A MOMENT OF PRAYERFUL SILENCE
so that the Word of God may penetrate and
enlighten our life.
4.
SOME QUESTIONS
to help us in our personal reflection.
a) What part of the text struck me most? Why?
b) In my experience of life, what do I understand by a hidden treasure, a merchant of precious pearls, or a dragnet cast into the sea?
c) How does this experience of mine help me understand the parables of the treasure, the pearl and the dragnet?
d) What difference is there between the parable of the treasure and that of the pearl?
e) What does the text say about the mission to be carried out as disciples of Christ?
b) In my experience of life, what do I understand by a hidden treasure, a merchant of precious pearls, or a dragnet cast into the sea?
c) How does this experience of mine help me understand the parables of the treasure, the pearl and the dragnet?
d) What difference is there between the parable of the treasure and that of the pearl?
e) What does the text say about the mission to be carried out as disciples of Christ?
5.
FOR THOSE WHO WISH TO GO DEEPER INTO THE THEME
a) The context of the parables told by Jesus:
The Gospels contain many parables of Jesus.
Matthew even says: “All these things Jesus said to the crowd in parables and
did not speak to them unless in parables” (Mt 13:34). This was a common method
of teaching used in those days. It was in this way that Jesus made himself
understood by the people. In the parables, he starts from very ordinary things
of life and he uses them as terms of comparison to help people better
understand the less known things of the Kingdom of God. In this Sunday’s
Gospel, Jesus starts with three well-known things in the lives of people: the
treasure hidden in the field, the merchant who seeks pearls and the dragnet
that fishermen cast into the sea.
b) A commentary on the text:
Matthew 13:44: The parable of the
hidden treasure
Here the term of comparison used to shed light on the things of the Kingdom of God is the treasure hidden in the field. No one knows that there is a treasure in that field. By chance, a man finds it. He did not know he was going to find it. He finds it and rejoices and gratefully welcomes the unexpected. The discovered treasure does not belong to him yet, it will be his if he succeeds in buying the field. Such were the laws in those days. So he goes, sells all he owns and buys that field. By buying the field he also acquires the treasure.
Jesus does not explain the parable. The same applies here as was said on previous occasions: “He who has ears to hear let him hear” (Mt 13:9.43). Or: “The Kingdom of God is this. You have heard. Now try to understand!” If Jesus does not explain the parable, nor will I. This is the task of each one of us. But I would like to offer a suggestion beginning from what I have understood. The field is our life. In our lives there is no hidden treasure, no precious treasure, more precious than all else. Will anyone who comes across such a treasure give away everything that he or she owns in order to buy this treasure? Have you found it?
Here the term of comparison used to shed light on the things of the Kingdom of God is the treasure hidden in the field. No one knows that there is a treasure in that field. By chance, a man finds it. He did not know he was going to find it. He finds it and rejoices and gratefully welcomes the unexpected. The discovered treasure does not belong to him yet, it will be his if he succeeds in buying the field. Such were the laws in those days. So he goes, sells all he owns and buys that field. By buying the field he also acquires the treasure.
Jesus does not explain the parable. The same applies here as was said on previous occasions: “He who has ears to hear let him hear” (Mt 13:9.43). Or: “The Kingdom of God is this. You have heard. Now try to understand!” If Jesus does not explain the parable, nor will I. This is the task of each one of us. But I would like to offer a suggestion beginning from what I have understood. The field is our life. In our lives there is no hidden treasure, no precious treasure, more precious than all else. Will anyone who comes across such a treasure give away everything that he or she owns in order to buy this treasure? Have you found it?
Matthew 13:45-46: The parable of the
merchant of precious pearls
In the first parable, the term of comparison is “the treasure hidden in the field”. In this parable, the accent is different. The term of comparison is not the precious pearl, but the activity, the effort of the merchant who seeks precious pearls. We all know that such pearls exist. What is important is not to know that they exist, but to seek them ceaselessly until we come across them.
Both parables have some common and some different elements. In both cases, it is about something precious: a treasure and a pearl. In both cases there is a finding of the object desired, and in both cases the person goes and sells all he owns so as to be able to buy the precious thing found. In the first parable, the finding is by chance. In the second, the finding is the result of the effort of seeking. Here we see two basic aspects of the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom exists, it is hidden in life, waiting for those who will find it. The Kingdom is the result of a seeking (obtaining). These are the two basic dimensions of human life: gratitude of love that welcomes us and comes to meet us, and the faithful observance that brings us to meet the Other.
In the first parable, the term of comparison is “the treasure hidden in the field”. In this parable, the accent is different. The term of comparison is not the precious pearl, but the activity, the effort of the merchant who seeks precious pearls. We all know that such pearls exist. What is important is not to know that they exist, but to seek them ceaselessly until we come across them.
Both parables have some common and some different elements. In both cases, it is about something precious: a treasure and a pearl. In both cases there is a finding of the object desired, and in both cases the person goes and sells all he owns so as to be able to buy the precious thing found. In the first parable, the finding is by chance. In the second, the finding is the result of the effort of seeking. Here we see two basic aspects of the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom exists, it is hidden in life, waiting for those who will find it. The Kingdom is the result of a seeking (obtaining). These are the two basic dimensions of human life: gratitude of love that welcomes us and comes to meet us, and the faithful observance that brings us to meet the Other.
Matthew 13:47-50: The parable of the
dragnet cast into the sea
Here the Kingdom is likened to a dragnet, not any kind of net, but a net cast into the sea and that gathers fish of all kinds. It is something typical of the life of those who were listening, most of whom were fishermen who lived by fishing. This is an experience they are familiar with, the casting of the net that gathers all, some good and some less good. The fisherman cannot prevent the less good fish to enter the net, because he cannot control what happens in the deep waters of the sea where he drags his net. He will only know when he pulls up the net and sits with his mates to sort the fish out. Then they will separate what is worthwhile from what is worthless. Again, Jesus does not explain the parable. He just gives a hint: “This is how it will be at the end of time”. Then the good will be separated from the evil.
Here the Kingdom is likened to a dragnet, not any kind of net, but a net cast into the sea and that gathers fish of all kinds. It is something typical of the life of those who were listening, most of whom were fishermen who lived by fishing. This is an experience they are familiar with, the casting of the net that gathers all, some good and some less good. The fisherman cannot prevent the less good fish to enter the net, because he cannot control what happens in the deep waters of the sea where he drags his net. He will only know when he pulls up the net and sits with his mates to sort the fish out. Then they will separate what is worthwhile from what is worthless. Again, Jesus does not explain the parable. He just gives a hint: “This is how it will be at the end of time”. Then the good will be separated from the evil.
Matthew 13:51-52: Conclusion of the
discourse of parables
In Matthew’s Gospel, the discourse of parables ends with a brief dialogue between Jesus and his listeners and that acts as a key to the reading of all the parables. Jesus asks, “Have you understood all these?” The people reply, “Yes!” Then Jesus concludes with these very beautiful words, “Well then, every scribe who becomes a disciple of the kingdom of Heaven is like a householder who brings out from his storeroom new things as well as old”. These closing words are another parable. “The things new as well as old that the householder brings out from his storeroom” are the things of the life that Jesus has just suggested in the parables: seeds cast in the field (Mt 13:4-8), the mustard seed (Mt 13:31-32), the leaven (Mt 13:33), the treasure hidden in the field (Mt 13:44), the merchant of precious pearls (Mt 13: 45-46), the dragnet cast into the sea (Mt 13:47-48). Each person’s experience of these things is his or her treasure. It is in such experiences that each person finds the term of comparison that will permit him or her to better understand the things of the Kingdom of God! Sometimes when the parables do not mean much to us and do not yield their message, the cause may not be a lack of study, but a lack of experience in life or a lack of depth in one’s life. Those who live superficially without any depth of the experience of life, have no storeroom from which to bring out things new as well as old.
In Matthew’s Gospel, the discourse of parables ends with a brief dialogue between Jesus and his listeners and that acts as a key to the reading of all the parables. Jesus asks, “Have you understood all these?” The people reply, “Yes!” Then Jesus concludes with these very beautiful words, “Well then, every scribe who becomes a disciple of the kingdom of Heaven is like a householder who brings out from his storeroom new things as well as old”. These closing words are another parable. “The things new as well as old that the householder brings out from his storeroom” are the things of the life that Jesus has just suggested in the parables: seeds cast in the field (Mt 13:4-8), the mustard seed (Mt 13:31-32), the leaven (Mt 13:33), the treasure hidden in the field (Mt 13:44), the merchant of precious pearls (Mt 13: 45-46), the dragnet cast into the sea (Mt 13:47-48). Each person’s experience of these things is his or her treasure. It is in such experiences that each person finds the term of comparison that will permit him or her to better understand the things of the Kingdom of God! Sometimes when the parables do not mean much to us and do not yield their message, the cause may not be a lack of study, but a lack of experience in life or a lack of depth in one’s life. Those who live superficially without any depth of the experience of life, have no storeroom from which to bring out things new as well as old.
c) A deepening: The teaching of the parables
The parables of Jesus are a pedagogical device
that uses daily life to show us how the things of daily life speak to us of
God. The parables make reality transparent and reveal the presence and action
of God. They transform one’s sight into a contemplative gaze. A parable is
about the things of life and thus is an open teaching that involves us. We all
have experience of the things of life. The teaching in parables begins with a
person’s experience of common things so as to be able to understand the
Kingdom: seed, salt, light, sheep, flowers, woman, children, father, net, fish,
treasure, pearl, etc.
Jesus did not usually explain his parables. Generally he ended with this phrase: “He who has ears to hear let him hear!” (Mt 11:15; 13:9.43), or, "That’s it. You’ve heard! Now try to understand!” Jesus left his parables open ended, he did not finish them. This is a sign that Jesus believed in the ability of people to discover the meaning of the parable starting from their own experience of life. Occasionally, at the request of his disciples, he would explain the meaning. (Mt 13:10.36). For instance, verses 36-43 explain the parable of the wheat and the weeds. It is also possible that these explanations are the reflection of the catechesis given to the communities of first Christians. The communities met and discussed the parables of Jesus, seeking to understand what Jesus meant to say. Thus, gradually, the teaching of Jesus started to be assimilated into the catechesis of the community and this then becomes an explanation of the parable.
Jesus did not usually explain his parables. Generally he ended with this phrase: “He who has ears to hear let him hear!” (Mt 11:15; 13:9.43), or, "That’s it. You’ve heard! Now try to understand!” Jesus left his parables open ended, he did not finish them. This is a sign that Jesus believed in the ability of people to discover the meaning of the parable starting from their own experience of life. Occasionally, at the request of his disciples, he would explain the meaning. (Mt 13:10.36). For instance, verses 36-43 explain the parable of the wheat and the weeds. It is also possible that these explanations are the reflection of the catechesis given to the communities of first Christians. The communities met and discussed the parables of Jesus, seeking to understand what Jesus meant to say. Thus, gradually, the teaching of Jesus started to be assimilated into the catechesis of the community and this then becomes an explanation of the parable.
6. PALM
19,7-14
The Law of Yahweh is perfect
The Law of Yahweh is perfect,
refreshment to the soul;
the decree of Yahweh is trustworthy,
wisdom for the simple.
The precepts of Yahweh are honest,
joy for the heart;
the commandment of Yahweh is pure,
light for the eyes.
The fear of Yahweh is pure, lasting for ever;
the judgements of Yahweh are true,
upright, every one,
more desirable than gold,
even than the finest gold;
his words are sweeter than honey,
that drips from the comb.
refreshment to the soul;
the decree of Yahweh is trustworthy,
wisdom for the simple.
The precepts of Yahweh are honest,
joy for the heart;
the commandment of Yahweh is pure,
light for the eyes.
The fear of Yahweh is pure, lasting for ever;
the judgements of Yahweh are true,
upright, every one,
more desirable than gold,
even than the finest gold;
his words are sweeter than honey,
that drips from the comb.
Thus your servant is formed by them;
observing them brings great reward.
But who can detect his own failings?
Wash away my hidden faults.
And from pride preserve your servant,
never let it be my master.
So shall I be above reproach,
free from grave sin.
observing them brings great reward.
But who can detect his own failings?
Wash away my hidden faults.
And from pride preserve your servant,
never let it be my master.
So shall I be above reproach,
free from grave sin.
May the words of my mouth always find favour,
and the whispering of my heart,
in your presence, Yahweh,
my rock, my redeemer.
and the whispering of my heart,
in your presence, Yahweh,
my rock, my redeemer.
7.
FINAL PRAYER
Lord Jesus, we thank for the word that has
enabled us to understand better the will of the Father. May your Spirit
enlighten our actions and grant us the strength to practice that which your
Word has revealed to us. May we, like Mary, your mother, not only listen to but
also practise the Word. You who live and reign with the Father in the unity of
the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.
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