Cycle A - Year 1:   

30 July 2017:  Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time 

(Liturgical Color: Green)

Readings:

First Reading:        1 Kings 3:5, 7-12

Second Reading:   Romans 8:28-30

Gospel:Please Read  Matthew 13:44-52

In search of God's treasure...

Why does treasure hunting remain popular among adventure seekers? The obvious reason is because of its promise of quick wealth and so easy life after, and even fame. In modern times, "treasure hunting" may take the form of big lotteries and other games of chance, even the popular casinos.  Would you take your chance in treasure hunting?

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This Sunday's Gospel tells us something about hunting for treasures, but for God's treasure.

Recall that our Lord Jesus Christ speaks often about the kingdom of God in His public

ministry. In the Gospel reading, Jesus uses different images in His parables to describe what this kingdom is like -- the hidden treasure, the pearl of great value, the dragnet thrown into the sea which brings in all kinds of fish.  These images were everyday life situations in Jesus' time that tell us something about the nature of God's kingdom and how we need to respond to it.

But a word of caution though, before proceeding  further. We do not like to speak of spiritual things in mercantile terms. Obviously, the kingdom of heaven cannot be purchased or earned, because it is a free gift to those who believe. But by these parables, Jesus calls our attention to the cost of discipleship. How much is the kingdom of heaven worth to you? How much are you willing to give up to have that intimate and eternal relationship with God (which really the kingdom of heaven is all about)?

Let us reflect on the meaning and message of these parables about the kingdom of God.

The message of comparing the kingdom of God with a hidden treasure or valuable pearl is that God's kingdom is so valuable that everything else must be sacrificed for it. The meaning of "kingdom" here is not a place or a physical location; rather the "kingdom" is a direct and close relationship of ourselves with God. So that to accept God's kingdom we are challenged to give up something important to us, like certain personal ambitions perhaps, or to abandon certain bad habits or ways of life, to take on a discipline and self-denial that are not always easy. Because there is no other way to true peace of mind and heart in this life, and to glory in the life to come. But in the end, it is worth any sacrifice to possess God's kingdom and to live in friendship and communion with our Lord Jesus Christ.

Particularly the last parable describes the kingdom of God as a great net that catches various kinds of fish, some worth keeping and some not. The point of the parable is to remind us that there will be judgment day to separate the good and bad catch. The "fish" worth keeping are those who have realized and accepted the supreme importance of the kingdom of God in their lives, and who have tried with all their strength to conduct themselves according to God's way of life. In other words, the kingdom of God allows both saints and sinners in this life (like the message of last Sunday's parable of the weeds and the wheat). The Lord gives to every person the time and opportunity to become more and more transformed into the image and likeness of Jesus Christ.

Yet we must also remember that the time given to us for transformation is not meant to be forever. Our lives on earth will come to an end. Therefore, Jesus reminds us today in this last parable that we must put God's kingdom first in our list of priorities. And if we do this, we will be counted among the "fish" that are worth saving.

This Sunday is also Fil-Mission Sunday. Let us pray for the Mission Society of the Philippines (MSP) and all Filipino missionaries all over the world who continue the work to preach the kingdom of God to every people.

A blessed Sunday to us all. And thank you for a moment with God.

Ad Jesum per Mariam!