Commentary: 17 OT A

Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, A

I Kings 3: 5, 7-12

Psalm 119

Romans 8: 28-30

Matthew 13: 44-52



The readings converge at valuing God and His wisdom above all else. The First Reading tells of the dream of Solomon where, in response to an offer from God, the king chooses “an understanding heart to judge Your people wisely and to distinguish right from wrong.” The Lord was pleased with the request and granted it to him. The Responsorial Psalm reflects Solomon’s choice of wisdom over riches or long life, saying, “For I love Your command more than gold, however fine.” Loving the Lord’s commands, then, is the path to life and to wisdom. Today’s Gospel is a series of parables: the buried treasure, the pearl of great price, and the dragnet, all of which are used to emphasize the importance of choosing God’s kingdom above all other things in this world. Even the sneakiness of the man who finds the buried treasure and reburies it so that he can buy the field without disclosing its real worth—this is an example of how the kingdom of God requires our utmost to acquire it. We see in the parable of the dragnet that “what was useless was thrown away—that is how it will be at the end of the world.” In discussing the pearl of great price, Origen says: “If you ask what is to be sought, and what will be found by everyone who seeks for it, I say with all confidence: pearls—especially that pear which will be acquired by those who give their all, who sacrifice everything for it, the pearl which Paul meant when he said, ‘I have accepted the loss of everything in order to gain Christ.’ Everything means beautiful pearls; to gain Christ refers to the one pearl, the pearl of great price.” (Commentary on the Gospel according to Matthew)



The in-course reading from Romans continues this week. Given what Paul has already discussed, he announces that we have assurance that all will be well. With what we have already experienced God to have done through Christ, we have hope: “We know that God makes all things work together for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His decree.” As we are experiencing the life in Christ through the Church now, we know that something even greater is held in store for us.



The hymn written for this Sunday is recorded in an anthem version on the compact disc, "Music for the Year of Matthew," sung by the Schola Cantorum of St. Peter's in the Loop, and available for purchase from The Liturgical Press, Collegeville, MN (www.litpress.org)