Meditation
for the 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A
(1 kg
3:5, 7-12; Rm 8:28-30; Mt 13:44-52)
Let us meditate on how God, the source of wisdom, hid the
ultimate treasure of the kingdom of heaven. He did not leave it in the open for
causal eyes to see, but He hid it, such that it can only be found by those who
are looking for it, and acquired by those who value it above all else. This
wisdom of God indicates that everything that has value cannot be on the
SURFACE, but must be sought for before it can be found. Think about how love,
truth, beauty, goodness, etc, are not causally placed on the surface but hidden
in the depths of the heart. They can only be found and possessed by those who
know their value, who are ready to make sacrifices. Yes, in his joy, the
man goes and sells all that he had and buys the field.
Human wisdom is foolishness in God’s eyes (1 Cor 3:19). The
human mind would have considered Solomon foolish for not requesting for his
personal wellbeing and safety first. Man considers amassing wealth as a means
of dominance and control. But Solomon asked for divine wisdom in favor of his
people. It would have been foolishness in the eyes of the world for a merchant
to sell all he had in order to purchase one pearl of great value. The fear of
loss; fear of losing relevant, dignity, pleasure, health, or life itself
discourages us. This is because we calculate from a selfish safe angel! But the
second reading urges us to calculate from a ‘divine angle’, where we are truly
safe, and whatever ‘investment’ we make from there will not fail us, but must
surely end to our favor. “We know that in everything God works for good with
those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.”
Therefore, being conformed to the image of Jesus, we stand
on the authority our shared life with Him, “So that, knowing the love of
Christ, which is beyond knowledge, you may be filled with the utter fullness of
God” (Eph 3:19). Jesus becomes the highest Treasure, the one Pearl that is of
the greatest value. Though He came to dwell among us, He is still hidden from
the eyes of the worldly minded, but is found by those who are sincerely searching for
truth, and by those inspired by the Holy Spirit. The hidden wisdom of God is made
available to us in Christ Jesus. Thus, we are truly wise when we come to know
Jesus, and He becomes the reason for our lives and actions. “Because of the
supreme advantage of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, I count everything else as
loss. For Him I have accepted the loss of all other things, and look on them
all as filth if only I can gain Christ” (Phil 3:8). In this way, God will turn
every situation to our advantage since we have been predestined and called to share
in the life of Jesus; “And those whom He called he also justified; and those
whom He justified He also glorified.” Amen.
Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Ojo, Lagos.
Sunday July 30th, 2023.
