{"id":3908,"date":"2011-07-20T09:00:14","date_gmt":"2011-07-20T16:00:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/?p=3908"},"modified":"2015-03-19T14:45:10","modified_gmt":"2015-03-19T21:45:10","slug":"lectionary-notes-20110724","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/2011\/07\/20\/lectionary-notes-20110724\/","title":{"rendered":"Lectionary Notes July 24th"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"color: #808080\"><em>Sorry it&#8217;s a bit late &#8211; it&#8217;s been a hell of a week&#8230;<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<h2>17th\u00a0Sunday\u00a0in Ordinary Time:\u00a0July 17, 2011<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Reading 1:\u00a0<\/strong><a href=\"http:\/\/usccb.org\/nab\/bible\/1kings\/1kings3.htm#v5\">1 Kgs 3:5, 7-12<\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #993300\"><em>Scripture:<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\"><span style=\"color: #993300\"><em>The LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream at night.\u00a0God said, \u201cAsk something of me and I will give it to you.\u201d <\/em><em>Solomon answered:<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\"><span style=\"color: #993300\"><em>\u201cO LORD, my God, you have made me, your servant, king\u00a0to succeed my father David;\u00a0but I am a mere youth, not knowing at all how to act. \u00a0I serve you in the midst of the people whom you have chosen,\u00a0a people so vast that it cannot be numbered or counted. \u00a0Give your servant, therefore, an understanding heart\u00a0to judge your people and to distinguish right from wrong. \u00a0For who is able to govern this vast people of yours?\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\"><span style=\"color: #993300\"><em>The LORD was pleased that Solomon made this request. \u00a0So God said to him:<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\"><span style=\"color: #993300\"><em>\u201cBecause you have asked for this\u2014\u00a0not for a long life for yourself,\u00a0nor for riches, nor for the life of your enemies,\u00a0but for understanding so that you may know what is right\u2014\u00a0I do as you requested. I give you a heart so wise and understanding\u00a0that there has never been anyone like you up to now, and after you there will come no one to equal you.\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><span style=\"color: #008000\">Suggested Questions:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #008000\">Who was Solomon?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #008000\">What does God tell Solomon to do?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #008000\">What does Solomon ask for?\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"color: #008000\">What would you have asked for?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #008000\">Why is Solomon&#8217;s reason for asking for wisdom?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #008000\">How does God respond?\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"color: #008000\">Why do you think God responds in this way?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"color: #008000\">What lesson does this have to teach us in our own petitions to God?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"color: #008000\">Have you read any of the Bible&#8217;s wisdom literature? Maybe read a proverb or two each day?<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><!--more--><br \/>\n<span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"color: #0000ff\">Introduction:<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff\">King Solomon was the son of King David and Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah. \u00a0He was the builder of the great Temple in Jerusalem and he is associated with several books of the Bible such as Proverbs and Song of Songs.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff\">This passage begins just after Solomon has offered a thousand burnt offerings to the Lord. God then comes to him in a dream and tells to ask for anything. Solomon chooses wisdom above all else, something for which Solomon would later be renowned.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff\">In this encounter,\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"color: #0000ff\">we see how knowledge of God, His word and His heavenly wisdom is greater than all the material things of this world. This theme will be picked up again in the Gospel reading concerning God&#8217;s Kingdom.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff\">After this passage we are told that God chooses to bless Solomon with what he <span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">didn&#8217;t<\/span> ask for &#8211; riches and honour (verse 13). Unfortunately, Solomon eventually falls from grace, a sober warning that we must depend upon the Lord to the end, regardless of the gifts He has given us.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/wisdom.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"331\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Commentary:<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\"><span style=\"color: #993300\"><em><em>&#8220;The LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream at night&#8230;&#8221;<\/em><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\">God often spoke to people in the Old Testament through dreams. He also did this in the New Testament with St. Joseph and St. Paul.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\"><span style=\"color: #993300\"><em>\u201cAsk something of me and I will give it to you&#8221;<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\">What would you ask for? Take some time to honestly consider this question.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\">I&#8217;m reminded of other moments when this kind of question is asked: Elijah asks Elisha (<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=2%20Kings%202:9&amp;version=NIV\">2 Kings 2:9<\/a>), the disciples of John come to Jesus (<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=John+1:38&amp;version=NIV\">John 1:38<\/a>), Jesus asks the people he heals (<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Mark+10:51&amp;version=NIV\">Mark 10:51<\/a>). They all give answers somewhat similar to Solomon.\u00a0It is even said that St. Thomas\u00a0Aquinas was asked what he wanted from God. His answer? &#8220;<em>Nil nisi te&#8230;<\/em><em>Nothing but Yourself&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\"><span style=\"color: #993300\"><em>&#8220;&#8230;me, your servant&#8230;&#8221;<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\">Solomon approaches God with humility. Even though he is a king, he is still a servant of God.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\"><span style=\"color: #993300\"><em><em>&#8220;&#8230;king\u00a0to succeed my father David&#8221;<\/em><br \/>\n<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\"><span style=\"color: #000000\">Solomon&#8217;s father was King David who, when he was just a shepherd boy, killed Goliath. He had a big pair of shoes to fill&#8230;<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\"><span style=\"color: #993300\"><em>&#8220;I am a mere youth&#8230;&#8221;<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\">Solomon would have only been about twenty when he ascended to the throne of Israel. I&#8217;m reminded here of Aslan in &#8220;Prince Caspian&#8221; when Aslan asks the boy if he is ready to become King and, when he says he doesn&#8217;t think so, Aslan says\u00a0that this is the very reason why he is ready.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\">Consider the never ending series of teenage pop sensations who come into wealth and fame at an early age. In lacking wisdom, how often does it end well?<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\"><span style=\"color: #993300\"><em>&#8220;&#8230;not knowing at all how to act&#8221;<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\">Solomon is aware that he lacks wisdom and so asks God for it. \u00a0<em>&#8220;If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God&#8230;and it will be given to you&#8221; &#8211; James 1:5<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\"><span style=\"color: #993300\"><em><em>&#8220;I serve you in the midst of the people&#8230;&#8221;<\/em><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\">More humility. Solomon realises that, in being King, he is not simply serving his own interests, but serving God from within the midst of Israel.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\"><span style=\"color: #993300\"><em>&#8220;&#8230;a people so vast that it cannot be numbered or counted&#8221;<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\">This points to God&#8217;s promise that Abraham&#8217;s descendants would be countless. In saying this, Solomon is affirming that the Lord is true and faithful. Of course, God&#8217;s promise to Abraham finds its full and true\u00a0fulfillment\u00a0in Christ and His Bride, the Church, whereby we are made Abraham&#8217;s sons by faith.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\"><span style=\"color: #993300\"><em>&#8220;Give your servant&#8230;&#8221;<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\">Again, Solomon\u00a0identifies\u00a0himself as a servant, indicating his clear understanding of his relationship to God.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\"><span style=\"color: #993300\"><em>&#8220;&#8230;therefore&#8230;&#8221;<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\">Whenever you see a <em><span style=\"color: #993300\">&#8220;therefore&#8221;<\/span><\/em>, you have to ask <em>&#8220;what&#8217;s it there for?&#8221;<\/em> \ud83d\ude09 Looking earlier, we can see that Solomon is asking for this gift of wisdom because of the size of God&#8217;s nation. The task is immense and beyond Solomon&#8217;s own natural abilities. He therefore asks for supernatural help.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\"><span style=\"color: #993300\"><em>&#8220;&#8230;an understanding heart\u00a0to judge your people and to distinguish right from wrong&#8221;<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\">Solomon asks for the gift of wisdom and discernment. This wisdom is heavenly wisdom, the ability to see things through the eyes of the Kingdom. St. Thomas Acquinas described wisdom as seeing things from the perspective of God.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\"><em>&#8220;But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.&#8221; &#8211; James 3:17<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\">It&#8217;s probably also worth mentioning here that the word &#8220;judge&#8221; is used here. Maybe it&#8217;s not the dirty word it is so often made out to be&#8230;<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\">It&#8217;s also rather funny that, in asking for heavenly wisdom, as opposed to earthly comfort, Solomon is actually demonstrating\u00a0heavenly wisdom&#8230;<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\"><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"color: #993300\"><em><em>&#8220;For who is able to govern this vast people of yours?&#8221;<\/em><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\">Who indeed?! Only someone guided by God and His wisdom&#8230;<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\"><span style=\"color: #993300\"><em>&#8220;Because you have&#8230;[not asked] for a long life for yourself,\u00a0nor for riches, nor for the life of your enemies&#8230;&#8221;<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\">These would have been all the sorts of things one might expect a near-eastern king (or indeed ourselves) to ask for. \u00a0We find out in the text following this package that God\u00a0actually gives these things to Solomon anyway.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\">It is worth\u00a0emphasizing\u00a0that worldly goods are not <span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">bad<\/span>&#8230;.in their proper place.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\">The difference is that, since God gives Solomon wisdom, he now knows how to properly manage these things. If you give a fool riches, chances are that he won&#8217;t remain rich for long. If a fool is given a long life it is most likely to be squandered. If a fool is given victory over his enemies he will most likely abuse this power. Not so with the wise man.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\"><span style=\"color: #993300\"><em>&#8220;Because you have asked for this\u2014\u00a0not for a long life for yourself,\u00a0nor for riches, nor for the life of your enemies,\u00a0but for understanding so that you may know what is right\u2014\u00a0I do as you requested&#8221;<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\">It&#8217;s interesting to see how this sentence is constructed. It almost seems to imply that Solomon gets what he asks for because he asks for the right thing&#8230;<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\"><span style=\"color: #993300\"><em>&#8220;I give you a heart so wise and understanding\u00a0that there has never been anyone like you up to now, and after you there will come no one to equal you&#8221;<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\">Until, of course, <span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">another<\/span> certain son of David (Jesus) comes along&#8230;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Responsorial Psalm:\u00a0<\/strong><a href=\"http:\/\/usccb.org\/nab\/bible\/psalms\/psalm119.htm#v57\">119:57, 72, 76-77, 127-128, 129-130<\/a><\/p>\n<p><em><span style=\"color: #993300\">Scripture:<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\"><strong><em><span style=\"color: #993300\">R. Lord, I love your commands.<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\"><em><span style=\"color: #993300\">I have said, O LORD, that my part<\/span><\/em><br \/>\n<em><span style=\"color: #993300\">is to keep your words.<\/span><\/em><br \/>\n<em><span style=\"color: #993300\">The law of your mouth is to me more precious<\/span><\/em><br \/>\n<em><span style=\"color: #993300\">than thousands of gold and silver pieces.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\"><em><span style=\"color: #993300\">Let your kindness comfort me<\/span><\/em><br \/>\n<em><span style=\"color: #993300\">according to your promise to your servants.<\/span><\/em><br \/>\n<em><span style=\"color: #993300\">Let your compassion come to me that I may live,<\/span><\/em><br \/>\n<em><span style=\"color: #993300\">for your law is my delight.<\/span><\/em><br \/>\n<em><span style=\"color: #993300\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"color: #993300\">For I love your command<\/span><\/em><br \/>\n<em><span style=\"color: #993300\">more than gold, however fine.<\/span><\/em><br \/>\n<em><span style=\"color: #993300\">For in all your precepts I go forward;<\/span><\/em><br \/>\n<em><span style=\"color: #993300\">every false way I hate.<\/span><\/em><br \/>\n<em><span style=\"color: #993300\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"color: #993300\">Wonderful are your decrees;<\/span><\/em><br \/>\n<em><span style=\"color: #993300\">therefore I observe them.<\/span><\/em><br \/>\n<em><span style=\"color: #993300\">The revelation of your words sheds light,<\/span><\/em><br \/>\n<em><span style=\"color: #993300\">giving understanding to the simple.<\/span><\/em><span style=\"color: #993300\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #339966\">Suggested Questions:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #339966\">How does this relate to the First Reading (and Gospel)?<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #0000ff\">Introduction:<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff\">This is a small extract from the longest of the psalms, Psalm 119. You could describe this psalm as a devotional to the word of God. It is in the form of an acrostic (each section beginning with the letter of the alphabet). The author is an extremely pious Israelite, probably writing some time after the exile. The emphasis is on the precious nature of God&#8217;s revelation to mankind &#8211; His <span style=\"color: #993300\">&#8220;promises&#8221;<\/span>, His <span style=\"color: #993300\">&#8220;law&#8221;<\/span>, His <span style=\"color: #993300\">&#8220;command&#8221;<\/span>, His <span style=\"color: #993300\">&#8220;decrees&#8221;<\/span>, His <span style=\"color: #993300\">&#8220;words&#8221;<\/span>&#8230;<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Commentary:<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\"><span style=\"color: #993300\"><em>&#8220;The law of your mouth is to me more precious<\/em>\u00a0<em>than thousands of gold and silver pieces&#8221;<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\">&#8230;as Solomon himself demonstrated&#8230;<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\"><span style=\"color: #993300\"><em>&#8220;&#8230;for your law is my delight&#8221;<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\">The law, God&#8217;s revelation of Himself to his people, isn&#8217;t seen as a burden, but a joy because it reveals who God is and the way of right relationship with Him.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\"><span style=\"color: #993300\"><em>&#8220;For in all your precepts I go forward;<\/em>\u00a0<em>every false way I hate&#8221;<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\">God&#8217;s teaching gives light to the path ahead, discernment.<\/p>\n<div><em><br \/>\n<\/em><\/div>\n<p><strong>Reading II:\u00a0<\/strong><a href=\"http:\/\/usccb.org\/nab\/bible\/romans\/romans8.htm#v28\">Rom 8:28-30<\/a><\/p>\n<p><em><span style=\"color: #993300\">Scripture:<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\"><em><span style=\"color: #993300\">Brothers and sisters:\u00a0We know that all things work for good\u00a0for those who love God,\u00a0who are called according to his purpose. For those he foreknew he also predestined\u00a0to be conformed to the image of his Son,\u00a0so that he might be the firstborn\u00a0among many brothers and sisters.\u00a0And those he predestined he also called;\u00a0and those he called he also justified;\u00a0and those he justified he also glorified.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #008000\">Suggested Questions:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #008000\">What reassurance does Paul give his readers with regards to God&#8217;s providence? Why are we to trust Him?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #008000\">What is the sequence Paul describes for those whom God will ultimately glorify?<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #0000ff\">Introduction:<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff\">This passage\u00a0emphasizes\u00a0that ultimately God is in charge of things, even when things do not seem to be under control. Remember last week&#8217;s reading about the whole world groaning in labour pains?<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Commentary:<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\"><span style=\"color: #993300\">\u201c<em>We know that all things work for good\u00a0for those who love God,\u00a0who are called according to his purpose<\/em>\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\">God is guiding history for His purposes and plans, and we know that God is <span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">good<\/span>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\"><span style=\"color: #993300\"><em>&#8220;&#8230;predestined\u00a0to be conformed to the image of his Son&#8230;&#8221;<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\">Those who are\u00a0&#8220;predestined&#8221;\u00a0receive divine adoption. The concepts of predestination and free will are, without a doubt, unfathomable mysteries, so if the discussion gets onto predestination\/free will, good luck!<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\">The end goal for every Christian is to be another Christ. I think you could say that this is the <em><span style=\"color: #993300\">&#8220;good&#8221;<\/span><\/em> that Paul talks about in the beginning of the passage &#8211; the <em><span style=\"color: #993300\">&#8220;good&#8221;<\/span><\/em> is anything which conforms us to Christ. The experience of this may not always be pleasant&#8230;<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\"><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"color: #993300\"><em>&#8220;&#8230;that he might be the firstborn\u00a0among many brothers and sisters&#8221;<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\">Jesus is the firstborn from the grave. In His rising from the dead He gives hope to a fallen humanity, raising humanity to life again, and with it, <em><span style=\"color: #993300\">&#8220;many&#8221;<\/span><\/em> people. In being <span style=\"color: #993300\">&#8220;firstborn&#8221;\u00a0<\/span>(prototokos), Jesus is our eldest brother and our perfect example of Sonship, which we are called to\u00a0imitate.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\"><span style=\"color: #993300\"><em>&#8220;predestined&#8230;justified&#8230;glorified&#8221;<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\">The sequence through which the &#8220;elect&#8221; pass. The emphasis here is on God&#8217;s work within the believer.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Gospel:\u00a0<\/strong><a href=\"http:\/\/usccb.org\/nab\/bible\/matthew\/matthew13.htm#v44\">Mt 13:44-52 or 13:44-46<\/a><\/p>\n<p><em><span style=\"color: #993300\">Scripture:<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><em><span style=\"color: #993300\">Jesus said to his disciples:<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\"><em><span style=\"color: #993300\">\u201cThe kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field,\u00a0which a person finds and hides again,\u00a0and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. <\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\"><em><span style=\"color: #993300\">&#8220;Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant\u00a0searching for fine pearls. When he finds a pearl of great price,\u00a0he goes and sells all that he has and buys it.\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\"><em><span style=\"color: #993300\">&#8220;Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net thrown into the sea,\u00a0which collects fish of every kind. \u00a0When it is full they haul it ashore\u00a0and sit down to put what is good into buckets. \u00a0What is bad they throw away. \u00a0Thus it will be at the end of the age.\u00a0The angels will go out and separate the wicked from the righteous\u00a0and throw them into the fiery furnace,\u00a0where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\"><em><span style=\"color: #993300\">\u201cDo you understand all these things?\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><em><span style=\"color: #993300\">They answered, \u201cYes.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/em><em><span style=\"color: #993300\">And he replied,\u00a0\u201cThen every scribe who has been instructed in the kingdom of heaven\u00a0is like the head of a household\u00a0who brings from his storeroom both the new and the old.\u201d<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #008000\">Suggested Questions:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #008000\">What is the meaning of the parable of the hidden treasure?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #008000\">What is the meaning of the parable of the pearl?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #008000\">In light of the first two parables, how should we be seeking the Kingdom?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #008000\">What is the meaning of the parable of the dragnet? How does this relate to last week&#8217;s Gospel reading?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #008000\">What would you be willing to sacrifice for the Kingdom? What treasure would you be willing to give up in order to obtain it?\u00a0What is God&#8217;s Kingdom worth?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #008000\">What does Jesus mean when he talks about the &#8220;scribe who has been instructed in the kingdom of heaven&#8221;?<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #0000ff\">Introduction:<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff\">Continuing on from last week, Jesus is still speaking in parables&#8230; He now describes the Kingdom in three new ways: hidden treasure, a pearl of great value and a dragnet.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff\">***<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff\">The Kingdom is a hidden treasure in that, in comparison to all our worldly goods, it has infinitely greater worth. It does also suggest that, in order to embrace the Kingdom we may be called to forsake worldly goods. Religious (monks &amp; nuns) do this in an extreme sense, but all Christians are called to embrace the Evangelical Counsel of poverty. At the very least, we are called to embrace spiritual poverty, as well as\u00a0recongise what is of true and greater worth.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff\">Allegorically, St. Ireneaus said that one could see the treasure hidden in the field as Jesus Himself, hidden in the Old\u00a0Testament. He is only revealed in the light of His Passion and Resurrection. I quite like this interpretation as it connects to to what Jesus says at the end of this reading about <span style=\"color: #993300\">&#8220;scribes&#8221;<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff\">***<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff\">In a similar way, the pearl of great price puts to shame all other pearls owned by the man in the parable. He therefore *joyfully* sells all he has in order to possess it. The Kingdom is worth more than anything we possess. As in the previous parable, we can even say that Jesus *Himself* is this great prize.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff\">The only difference between these two parables is the manner in which the person finds the item of great value. The pearl merchant is out searching, but the man in the field simply stumbles across the treasure &#8211; one might say that he doesn&#8217;t &#8220;deserve&#8221; to find it. This speaks of God&#8217;s grace and could be seen as describing the differing ways in which people encounter Jesus and His Kingdom.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff\">***<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff\">The parable of the dragnet is very similar to last week&#8217;s reading about the parable of the wheat and the tares. A common fishing practice back then was to tie a large net between two boats and drag it through the water. It would pick up lots of fish, but also lots of garbage as well. Like the wheat and the tares, it shows that, for a time, good and bad will dwell side-by-side. However, there will come a time when each will be separated and put in their proper place.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-3914\" src=\"http:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/pearl.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/pearl.jpg 400w, https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/pearl-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Commentary:<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\"><span style=\"color: #993300\"><em>&#8220;&#8230;treasure buried in a field&#8230;&#8221;<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\"><span style=\"color: #993300\"><span style=\"color: #000000\">Not unusual in the ancient world, due to the lack of banks.<\/span><br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\"><span style=\"color: #993300\">&#8220;&#8230;<em>sells all that he has&#8230;&#8221;<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\">This is a common refrain in this passage. It suggests a decision to choose the Kingdom over and above everything else this world has to offer.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\">&#8220;Concupiscence&#8221;, a result of the fall, so often means that we choose (in the words of St. Thomas\u00a0Aquinas), the &#8220;lesser good&#8221;. So often this means putting the created things of this world ahead of the Creator Himself.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\"><span style=\"color: #993300\"><em>&#8220;&#8230;which collects fish of every kind&#8221;<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\">The dragnet is\u00a0indiscriminate\u00a0with regards to which fish it picks up. This may not just point to both good and bad fish which will later be sorted out, but it may also point to the different varieties of good fish. Perhaps this refers to both the Gentile and Jewish &#8220;fish&#8221; which will ultimately be drawn into the Kingdom.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\">Even today, you have to admit, we have some pretty odd fish in the Church! \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\"><span style=\"color: #993300\"><em><em>&#8220;Thus it will be at the end of the age&#8230;&#8221;<\/em><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\">At the final judgement, when *God* will do the separating and judging (not us).<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\"><span style=\"color: #993300\"><em>&#8220;Then every scribe who has been instructed in the kingdom of heaven\u00a0is like the head of a household\u00a0who brings from his storeroom both the new and the old.&#8221;<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\">The <em><span style=\"color: #993300\">&#8220;scribe[s]&#8221;<\/span><\/em> here are the people hearing Jesus&#8217; words as He <em><span style=\"color: #993300\">&#8220;instruct[s] them in the kingdom of heaven&#8221;<\/span><\/em>. The Apostles, uneducated in the eyes of the world though they are, will become the teachers of the New Covenant.\u00a0Jesus is giving them what they will need to supply the needs of the world. In this sense, they are each like a <em><span style=\"color: #993300\">&#8220;storeroom&#8221;<\/span><\/em>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\">The much-needed supplies the Apostles will bring will be the word of God. The Apostles&#8217; teaching will be drawn from both the <span style=\"color: #993300\">&#8220;old&#8221;<\/span> and the <span style=\"color: #993300\">&#8220;new&#8221;<\/span> Covenants. This nicely dovetails with\u00a0Ireneaus&#8217; view that the hidden treasure referred to earlier is Christ in the Old Testament.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Sorry it&#8217;s a bit late &#8211; it&#8217;s been a hell of a week&#8230; 17th\u00a0Sunday\u00a0in Ordinary Time:\u00a0July 17, 2011 Reading 1:\u00a01 Kgs 3:5, 7-12 Scripture: The LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream at night.\u00a0God said, \u201cAsk something of me and I will give it to you.\u201d Solomon answered: \u201cO LORD, my God, you have made me, your servant, king\u00a0to succeed<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_crdt_document":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[17,25],"tags":[2969,296,288,297,152,298],"class_list":["post-3908","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-faith","category-sunday-lectionary","tag-featured","tag-kingdom","tag-lectionary","tag-parables","tag-sunday","tag-wisdom"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3908","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3908"}],"version-history":[{"count":44,"href":"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3908\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":56344,"href":"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3908\/revisions\/56344"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3908"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3908"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3908"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}