BIBLE STUDY #52
SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
JULY 24, 2011


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.”

The Word of the Lord

Reading II
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.

The Word of the Lord


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 Gospel of the Lord

Reflection

We are continuing in chapter 13 of Matthew’s Gospel where Jesus is using parables to describe the kingdom of heaven. The first 2 parables are found only in Matthew and have the same theme. The Kingdom of God is like a buried treasure or a pearl of great price. When found, a person should sell all they have to obtain it.

In ancient days, there were no banks, no safety deposit boxes, nor any type of security systems. To protect their property in times of war or civil strife, a person would bury their valuables somewhere on their property. If he was killed, or taken captive, or if he fled and never returned, then the treasure belonged to the new owner of the field. In this case, if someone were plowing a field and came across a great treasure, he would sell all he had to buy that field. The Kingdom of God is like that. We should not hesitate to pay any price, undergo any sacrifice, or give up anything necessary, to obtain the kingdom. This should be the wholehearted response of someone who has found Jesus – following him is worth the price. There is a cost to discipleship, but the benefits far outweigh the cost.

In the ancient world, pearls were the single most valuable item. Finding a pearl of great price, one should sell all and buy it. The Kingdom is the single most valuable item and we should do whatever necessary to belong to the kingdom

In both instances, selling everything for the kingdom shows that the person’s commitment is total. The ones who give all are holding nothing back for themselves. I tell this to engaged couples: marriage is not a 50%-50% proposition, but a 100%-100% relationship. In the 50%-50% marriage, it is easy to become concerned if your spouse is holding up their end of the bargain. Of course, we always think we’re holding up our end, but your spouse may be thinking the same thing! Thinking like this can drive a wedge into a relationship. ‘I’m not getting my fair share out of this marriage’ can become a common complaint. If all you think about is what you can get out of a marriage, all you will do in the long run is to get out of the marriage.

On the other hand, giving 100% puts the onus on the individual to perform. In this instance, a spouse is concerned about the health, well being, and happiness of the other over themselves, and will do whatever it takes to insure that end. This is a very Christian attitude because thinking and acting like this will bring us into the realm of virtues: we will be kind, forgiving, sacrificing, and loving as Jesus taught us. If two spouses thing this way, then it has to be a very successful, loving marriage, one we could point to as an example of what marriage could be and should be. There is no reason why all marriages can’t be like this. Marriages fail because people fail. There is nothing wrong with marriage, but there can be a lot wrong with spouses.

Faith is like that, too. Many people expect to get something out of their faith, but are unwilling to commit totally to that faith. They expect God to ‘hold up their end of the bargain’, just as a couple in a 50%-50% marriage would. When God doesn’t do what we want (i.e., when we can’t manipulate and control God to our desires) then we give up on faith. “Father, I prayed so hard for my husband to live but he died anyway. Why didn’t God hear my prayers.” My response (in a little more pastoral, gentle way) is: “God did hear your prayers. He always hears our prayers. In this case His answer is no.”

John F. Kennedy once said, “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.” A perfect motto for those who give 100% to their faith. We don’t have to ask what God can do for us. We know what he has done and what he can do. The real question is: what can we do for God? That’s the way a totally committed faith person would think. This is also a good motto for stewardship. God has blessed us so much, what can we do for him? In the face of the death of a spouse, this type of person doesn’t question God, but is comforted with the knowledge that now their loved one is with God in heaven. God will never be outdone in generosity and will bless us many times over if we give all to our faith. Isn’t this a lot better way to live?

This third parable today is a parable about fishing. A large net would be used by either 2 boats or a boat and people onshore and they would drag it through the lake and catch fish. They would throw out the bad fish but save the good ones. It reminds us of last week’s parable about the wheat and weeds: the good and bad are together, there is a final separation, and then a fitting reward or punishment. Is this where the 100% people are separated from the others? Do you think 98% is good enough? Or 80%, or even 75% Why would you take that chance?

This last paragraph seems to refer to the Old and the New Testaments. Both are necessary and shed light on each other; but the definitive norm is the New Testament.

In the first reading, Solomon is young and has consolidated his power after the long reign of his father David. This is before the Temple in Jerusalem was built and Solomon goes to God’s sanctuary in Gibeon because it was the most renowned place to pray. God speaks to him in a dream. Dreams are very profound and life changing, as we see in Jacob’s dream at Bethel in Genesis 28:11-19 and Samuel’s dream at Shiloh (1Samuel 3:2-18).

In this dream, God said to Solomon, “Ask something of me and I will give it to you.” He could have asked for long life, to defeat all enemies, for more riches, but instead he asked for wisdom. But this is more than knowing things; it’s about knowing God. He wants to rule like God. He wants to be sensitive to the needs of the people and govern with justice tempered with mercy. In other words, he wants to conform himself to God’s will. He wants to give 100% He has found the pearl of great price, the treasure buried in a field, and it is God’s love.



Fr. Phil