17th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year A - The Treasure Worth Everything & “Holy Gifts”
Imagine discovering a hidden treasure buried in a field. Or finding the one pearl you've spent your whole life searching for. What would you do?
Jesus says that both the man who found the treasure and the merchant who found the pearl sold everything they owned to obtain what they had discovered. Notice, they didn't do it reluctantly. They did it with joy because they knew they were exchanging something valuable for something priceless.
That is exactly what the Kingdom of God is like.
The question this Sunday's Gospel asks each of us is simple: What is Jesus worth to you? It's easy to say that Christ comes first, but our daily lives reveal what we truly treasure. What occupies our thoughts? What receives our time and energy? What are we afraid to lose?
In the First Reading, God offers young King Solomon anything he desires. Solomon could have asked for wealth, power, or a long life. Instead, he asks for wisdom—an understanding heart that would help him know and do God's will. God is delighted because Solomon chooses the one gift that truly matters.
What a wonderful prayer for us each morning: “Lord, give me a wise heart. Help me to see what truly matters today.”
St. Paul reminds us in the Second Reading that "…all things work together for good for those who love God." That doesn't mean everything that happens is easy or pleasant. It means that even our struggles can become part of God's loving plan if we place our trust in Him. Every day we are invited to choose the true treasure. We find it in the Eucharist, in God's Word, in prayer, in Confession, and in loving those around us. The Kingdom isn't hidden because God wants to keep it from us. Often, it's hidden because we're looking everywhere else.
So this week, ask yourself:
Is Jesus truly the greatest treasure in my life?
What is one thing I need to let go of so I can follow Him more freely?
Am I asking God for success, or am I asking Him for wisdom
The man found a treasure. The merchant found a pearl.
We have found something infinitely greater. We have found Christ.
May we never stop choosing Him, for He alone is the treasure that will never fade and the joy that will never end.
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In honor of this weekend’s Gospel, we would like share our latest video.
"Holy Gifts" by Stephen Dean is a beautiful Eucharistic processional hymn. Its opening line, "Holy gifts for holy people; come, you hungry, and believe", extends a tender invitation to the table of the Lord
Video can be watched by clicking here or by clicking on the thumbnail below.
