SEVENTEENTH  SUNDAY-A July 24, 2011

Wisdom 12:13,16-19  Psalm: 86 Romans 8:26 27  Matthew 13:24-43

1. Introduction: King Solomon asks for a wise and understanding heart. The Wisdom described here is not the Wisdom that Paul encountered in Athens and Corinth. That Wisdom was of a philosophical nature. It consisted in mental gymnastics and debates. The Wisdom of Solomon is what the British would call DIY – Do it yourself. Solomon had a lot of Practical Wisdom.

• He was a counsellor in the case of the two women fighting over a baby.
• He was a builder and architect when it came to building the Temple.
• He was an administrator as the King.
• He was a trader and merchant in the business with neighbouring rulers.

This text from the book of Wisdom is the groundwork for understanding the Gospel. There, Jesus talks about the hidden treasure and the pearl of great price.

2. Paul’s reading from the Romans has followed the trends of the last two Sundays. Paul speaks

• of the fleeting nature of Worldly riches,
• of the foolishness of placing trust in Worldly material possessions,
• of the shallowness of Worldly security and well-being.

Things appear good. Things appear pleasing to the eye. Things are desirable. These are all words that echo the story of the fall of our first parents: Adam and Eve. They might appear good and desirable, but they have no substance. They are transitory. They disappear as the morning dew in the bright sun.

3. This particular selection from St. Paul is often used in funeral Masses to tell us not to cling that are passing, because they are unreal. They are mirages. They attract the eye, but they leave the heart empty. However, Paul will put a positive spin on this teaching. He tells us to concentrate rather on the glory to come. Nothing can compare with that glorious destiny prepared for those who are redeemed. This is a reality. This is not a placebo. This is not a pious sentiment to feed the simple minded. Trust in the Lord, St. Paul tells us and everything will be harmonious and peaceful. In fact no imagination can fathom all that awaits those whom the Lord loves.

4. The teaching in the Gospel focuses on the drastic measures that

need to be taken to get what is really important

need to be taken to achieve what is of true value. Jesus gives us three parables.

• First: the hidden treasure. It seems to involve cheating. One hides the treasure from the rightful owners and then buys the property and treasure.
• Second: the pearl of great price. There is no unsavoury action involved. But the merchant takes drastic measures again. He sacrifices the ordinary necessities of life: food, housing and clothes to get the object he desires.
• Third: the dragnet. One takes drastic measures to be included with the righteous, so that one can be included in the Kingdom.

All these actions are directed to the ultimate value, namely: the Kingdom of God. Both the hidden treasure and the pearl of great price refer to the Kingdom of God. Drastic measures are to be taken to be included into the Kingdom.

5. As we listen to the parables today, we realise that they cannot be taken as moral lessons that we should imitate and act accordingly.  Jesus uses discreditable human behaviour to underline the supreme value of the Kingdom of God. In the Gospel according to Luke, Jesus will tell us about the

• Unjust Judge, who feared neither God nor human beings. Jesus concludes that if the Judge who feared no one, listened to the Widow, how much more will God listen to our prayers. We should not fall into the trap of comparing God with the unjust judge.
• The Unjust steward, who fiddled with the Master’s accounts. Jesus is not asking us to imitate the Steward in fraud, but in his ingenuity.

6.   We are called to use the Wisdom of Solomon to know where and how the hidden treasure and the pearl of great price is in our life. We are called to use the Wisdom found in St. Paul to understand the fleeting nature of all things. We are called to set our minds and hearts on the glorious destiny that is prepared for us who are loved by God.