17TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR A

1 Kings 3:5.7-12

Romans 8:28-30

Matthew 13:44-52

THE DISCOVERY OF TRUE JOY 

In today’s gospel reading, Jesus gives three parables about the Kingdom of God: the hidden treasure, the merchant of precious pearls and the dragnet cast into the sea. These parables reveal to us that the discovery of God is a joyful and life-changing experience, which is at the same time very demanding. It can come unexpectedly or as a result of a patient searching. In any case, once one encounters the Lord, he is invited to make a choice. He must be ready and willing to pay any price in order to be with the Lord, the source of true happiness and fulfilment.

In this perspective, the second reading makes us understand that God has called all of us to glory and happiness. But each of us is free to respond or not. In other words, loving God is a matter of choice. And God makes all things beautiful for those who respond positively to his call, even in the midst of difficulties and challenges, for “all things work for good of those who love God” (Rom. 8.28).

Moreover, the story of King Solomon, narrated in the first readings, teaches that the way to true happiness and inner peace is remaining faithful to our covenant with God and working for the good of others. When God told him to ask for anything, King Solomon did not ask anything for his self-interest. He did not search for the immediate gratification of his desires. Neither did he ask God to destroy his enemies and to make the people of Israel subject to him. He asked simply God for a listening heart so as to govern the people with justice, fairness and discernment.

Consequently, God was pleased with his request and added wisdom and prosperity to him so much so that no one could be compared with King Solomon. But today, how many of us do not pray for the destruction of our enemies, and use others to achieve our selfish ambitions? How many of our religious and political leaders pray, asking God for an understanding heart for the interest of the people entrusted to them? 

We should always remember that when we look for the good of others, we find our own good, and this is nothing but choosing to be part of the Kingdom of God. May the Lord bless and keep us safe. Amen

16TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME , YEAR A

Wisdom 12:13,16-19

Romans 8:26-27

Matthew 13:24-43

THE WHEAT and THE WEED 

Why does evil exist in the world? Why does a good and all powerful God allow evil in the world? Why does he not eliminate evil and wicked men from the face of the earth? Why does the priest allow this public sinner, this prostitute, this disrespectful person to take Holy Communion? These and similar questions are asked every day. But there seems to be no adequate answers. It is in this perspective that today's readings have a great lesson for us.

In effect, the author of the Book of Wisdom tells us: though God is Almighty and Sovereign, he is gentle and forbearing with everyone (Wisd. 12:13,16-19). In a similar way, the parable of the weeds among the wheat teaches us that God allows good and evil to coexist in the world. But one thing is sure: good will triumph at the end (Matt. 13:24-43).

Three observations can be made with respect to this parable. First, the farmer (God) sowed good seeds in the world, while the enemy sowed weeds in the world. Indeed, in this world, there are people who are always sowing weeds in others' lives. They are destroyers, sowing confusion, discord, quarrels, lies, pain, tears, etc. These people are always among men. But the good news is that evil will never have the final say. Good, truth and justice will triumph.

Second, the enemy came when everybody was asleep. Thus, we become prey to the devil when we are spiritually asleep. For instance, not attending Mass, not praying, not reading the Word of God, not going for confession, etc. are favourable occasions for the evil one to sow evil in our hearts. That is why we need to be always awake.

Third, the farmer allowed both wheat and weeds to grow together until harvest time when he would separate them. In fact, in our society, we find good and wicked people, just and unjust, humble and arrogant. 

Again, at the individual level, no one is 100% good or 100% bad. There is in each one of us some good and some evil. Therefore, we need to be tolerant and kind with one another just as God is tolerant and forbearing with us. 

Besides, let us pray that God may renew in us his Holy Spirit to help us in our weaknesses (Rom. 8:26-27). May he bless and keep all of us. Amen.

15TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME , YEAR A

Isaiah 55:10-11

Romans 8:18-23

Matthew 13:1-13

THE TRANSFORMING POWER OF THE WORD OF GOD 

Almost each day, we read or listen to the Word of God. As the Lord declares through the prophet Isaiah in the first reading, his Word is true, effective and efficacious. It fulfills his will and brings transformation to those who hear it, just as the rain transforms nature. As such, it needs to bear fruits in our lives.

However, the kind of fruits it produces depends on our availability and readiness to keep it, to allow it to transform our life. In other words the growth, maturity and fruitfulness of the Word of God in our life depend on the kind of soil or heart that we have. And this is what Jesus meant by the parable of the sower (Matt.13:1-23).

The Word of God is like a seed sown in us, any time we read or listen to it. God who is the sower gives us this seed profusely to each of us without reservation or discrimination. He does not exclude anyone. We who receive it now have the responsibility to make it bear fruits in our life. For the day of harvest will come when the divine sower will expect his fruits. That day will be a day of revelation and deliverance, in that, God will reveal himself to all those who have kept the faith, those who have kept his Word and allowed it to bear fruits.

In this respect, St Paul teaches us that until then, we are in a time of waiting or of expectation, just like a pregnant woman expects her child. This time of waiting is marked by suffering, which, however, cannot be compared to the joyful glory yet to be revealed. It is a time of labour, of hard work so that the Word of God may bear fruits in us. So the question we need to ask ourselves today is: what type of fruits am I bearing as a Christian? Am I allowing the Word of God to grow and bear fruits of good deeds? What kind of soil am I?

Let us pray God to grant us the necessary grace to soften and fertilize our hearts so that we may bear fruits of good actions. Amen

14TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR A

Zechariah 9:9-10

Psalm 145

Romans 8:9.11-13

Matthew 11:25-30

A PROMISED REST FOR THE BURDENED 

Today’s readings have a message of hope and consolation for us. In the first reading, the prophet Zechariah invites the people of Jerusalem to rejoice because the Messiah-King is coming to restore them. He is a just Saviour, meek and humble. He is coming to banish anything that serves for war and oppression so as to establish a kingdom of peace.

As we know, this prophecy was realized in Jesus of Nazareth, but not all recognized him. For instance, the Pharisees, the Scribes and the chief priests failed to recognize him as the long awaited Messiah. Thus, Jesus praised the Father for hiding this mystery from the wise and the learned, and yet revealed it to the little ones. For in Jesus, God revealed his saving power to mankind. In him, God himself has come to save and give rest to his people: “Come to me, all you who labour and are burdened, and I will give you rest.” The “burden” refers to the burden of the Jewish law as contrasted with the “yoke” of Jesus, which is easy to bear.

Today many of us are weighed down by various kinds of burdens. Our burden may be sickness, loss of a loved one, joblessness, or hardships of life, especially in this time of COVID-19. For some, the burden is the family instability, disappointments or betrayals in relationships. For others, the burden may be the weight of their iniquities and past sins. Still for others, the burden may be oppression from evil spirits.

In any case, Jesus wants to be at all times a true source of comfort, consolation, liberation, forgiveness and reconciliation to us. However, he is not inviting us only to find inward refreshment and serenity in him in time of trouble. He invites us also to take upon ourselves his yoke and learn from him. In other words, he invites us to be at his school and learn his humility, kindness, tenderness, compassion, and his obedience to the Father. As St Paul tells us in the second reading, to be in the school of Jesus means also dying to the works of the flesh and living in the Spirit. May the Lord help us to recognize him as our King and Saviour so as to call upon him at all times. Amen