July 27 Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Reflection In our first reading, God offers to Solomon anything he wishes and God would give it to him; Solomon chooses Wisdom. Solomon could have chosen more money, more power, or a longer life but did not. Solomon, in his relationship with God, understood that he was created in love by a God who knew him before he was born; and in that trusting relationship he had in his creator sought only that which would allow him to be the best in reflecting more of God Himself to the people Solomon governed. What is it we seek from God? Is it Wisdom? If it is not then what we seek and ask for will be our kingdom, and that kingdom will rule over us. Jesus came as one greater than Solomon and Jesus came that we may understand what it means to be as wise as Solomon. For in the message Jesus shares, He asks that all who would hear would know the heart of God and the wisdom of God. While Jesus may have spoken in parables and stories, He calls us to seek and understand. For wisdom in itself is understanding the heart of God found in love and mercy. It is Gods heart of love and mercy who wishes for all of humanity to know that because of the saving act of His son Jesus what was offered to Solomon is offered to all. It is our choice, found in what we seek and treasure most. Dearest Abba Grant that we may seek Your heart and wisdom above all that we need to like Solomon may reflect Your image through our lives and the graces and gifts You bestow within us all for believing in You. May all of those gifts be governed by Your Wisdom. We ask this through Your heart of love and mercy, through You who are Love and Mercy itself. Amen Reading 1 1 Kgs 3:5, 7-12 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.” 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. Reading 2 Rom 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. 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.”
Posted on: Sun, 27 Jul 2014 12:38:07 +0000