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Created: 26 July 2020

Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year A

The Gospel of this Sunday, Matthew (Mt 13:44-52) continues to present the parables that Jesus used to teach people. The Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl – “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.”

The Parable of the Net – “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.” The parables we read in the Gospel of the last two Sundays speak of Jesus' desire for the growth of the Kingdom. The Parables in today’s Gospel speak of the thoughts and actions that each of us ought to have when we receive the good news of the Kingdom of God. Through Jesus' teaching, we understand that the fullness of happiness only exists in the kingdom of God.

The Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl clearly state the specific actions of those who have longed to enter and share the joy and happiness of the Kingdom. They make sacrifices in this earthly life in exchange for endless happiness with the Creator in Heaven.

Each of us are invited to inherit the eternal happiness. What have we been doing to deserve this inheritance? Do we dare to accept the losses in this life and then be compensated hundreds of thousands of times in the next life? What concrete actions have we made to articulate our desire to be in the Kingdom of God? Do we really want to come and stay forever in the house of the Lord?.

Fr. Phi Nguyen