At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, “Ask what I should give you.” And Solomon said, “You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant my father David, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you; and you have kept for him this great and steadfast love, and have given him a son to sit on his throne today. And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David, although I am only a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. And your servant is in the midst of the people whom you have chosen, a great people, so numerous they cannot be numbered or counted. Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil; for who can govern this your great people?” It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches, or for the life f your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, I now do according to your word. Indeed I give you a wise and discerning mind; no one like you has been before you and no one like you shall arise after you.
We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he might be the firstborn within a large family. And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified.
Second reading Romans 8:28-30
“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 price, 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 a householder who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old".
Reflection
“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 a householder who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old".
Reflection
By Jose Paulo Gonzales
In today’s Gospel, we are given more parables to describe the Kingdom of Heaven.
In the Parables of the Treasure in the Field and the Pearl of Great Price, we see the true value of the Kingdom of Heaven; so great it is a price that once we find it, we would relinquish all else to keep it.
The Kingdom of Heaven is of such great value that the riches of this world would not match it—all with its eternal glory. But as valuable it is a treasure, there is a great challenge to complete: we must yearn; we must pursue to find it. Truth be told – there is a likelihood that one may stumble upon treasure by pure chance, but he sure increases the probability by seeking treasure every day! And this is where it is great to read between the lines—the lessons given by the parables. There is far too great a harvest, but only few willing to labor (Matthew 9:37), so we must not tire out in doing good, for our harvest will come if we do not give up (Galatians 6:9).
The Parable of the Net closely resembles the Parable of the Wheat in last Sunday’s Gospel; it presents us with a dichotomy of personalities: one group whose goodness can be likened to quality-catch fish, and the other, the evil, resembling the fish to be thrown out. The parable calls us to be like quality-catch fish: that with our good works, we would be good finds ourselves, just like the treasure in the field and the pearl of great price.
Parables about the Kingdom of Heaven sure do give us a wealth of analogies to better understand God’s Kingdom—His reign. They also give us great parameters to determine if we conform to the behaviors of one who can be likened to such treasures. It is my hope that we more closely, day by day become like the treasure we seek so earnestly to find! It is the Holy Spirit who can help us in this daily endeavor.
In today’s Gospel, we are given more parables to describe the Kingdom of Heaven.
In the Parables of the Treasure in the Field and the Pearl of Great Price, we see the true value of the Kingdom of Heaven; so great it is a price that once we find it, we would relinquish all else to keep it.
The Kingdom of Heaven is of such great value that the riches of this world would not match it—all with its eternal glory. But as valuable it is a treasure, there is a great challenge to complete: we must yearn; we must pursue to find it. Truth be told – there is a likelihood that one may stumble upon treasure by pure chance, but he sure increases the probability by seeking treasure every day! And this is where it is great to read between the lines—the lessons given by the parables. There is far too great a harvest, but only few willing to labor (Matthew 9:37), so we must not tire out in doing good, for our harvest will come if we do not give up (Galatians 6:9).
The Parable of the Net closely resembles the Parable of the Wheat in last Sunday’s Gospel; it presents us with a dichotomy of personalities: one group whose goodness can be likened to quality-catch fish, and the other, the evil, resembling the fish to be thrown out. The parable calls us to be like quality-catch fish: that with our good works, we would be good finds ourselves, just like the treasure in the field and the pearl of great price.
Parables about the Kingdom of Heaven sure do give us a wealth of analogies to better understand God’s Kingdom—His reign. They also give us great parameters to determine if we conform to the behaviors of one who can be likened to such treasures. It is my hope that we more closely, day by day become like the treasure we seek so earnestly to find! It is the Holy Spirit who can help us in this daily endeavor.
Prayer
Abba, thank You for giving us a treasure worth giving up all else just to secure, a great pearl whose quality we should try to harness within ourselves, and good fish whose so being a good catch we should try to be, ourselves.
We could only wait with expectant hope about the glorious eternal life that is about to unfold. Thank You for giving us a great future to hope for. May You always be with us and patiently, unyieldingly help us as we yearn for it with good works.
May our good works and exaltation of You be perpetually pleasing to You as our humble sacrifices, in Jesus’ most holy Name, Amen.
Abba, thank You for giving us a treasure worth giving up all else just to secure, a great pearl whose quality we should try to harness within ourselves, and good fish whose so being a good catch we should try to be, ourselves.
We could only wait with expectant hope about the glorious eternal life that is about to unfold. Thank You for giving us a great future to hope for. May You always be with us and patiently, unyieldingly help us as we yearn for it with good works.
May our good works and exaltation of You be perpetually pleasing to You as our humble sacrifices, in Jesus’ most holy Name, Amen.
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