Scripture Study for
Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
1 Kings 3:5, 7–12 / Psalm119:97a / Romans 8:28–30 / Matthew 13:44–52 or 13:44–46
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Understanding the Word
By Br. John R. Barker, OFM
King Solomon is known in the tradition for having unparalleled wisdom. The Bible affirms that wisdom comes from God, it is not a human creation. Accordingly, Solomon became wise because he asked for the divine gift of wisdom. God, who might have expected a human king to grasp for wealth or long life, instead receives a request from Solomon for the wisdom to rule justly. Nothing could be more pleasing to the divine will than a desire to serve God and God’s people well and with integrity. Thus God readily accedes to Solomon’s pious request. (And because Solomon did not ask for it, God throws in wealth and the promise of long life.)
Paul has been writing to the Romans about the hope of glory they have as adopted children of God in Christ. This destiny has been part of the divine plan from the beginning, and is achieved through conformity to Christ, the exemplary human being. Those who are called to this glory are first justified, the divine accomplishment in Christ that has been the subject of much of the earlier part of the letter. The point of this short section is to emphasize that God has had things securely in hand from the beginning. All things work for good for those who respond to the divine call to be conformed to Christ, and thus justified, one day glorified.
Throughout Matthew’s Gospel Jesus has warned that entering the kingdom of heaven is a challenging undertaking, and few persevere. Yet persevere they must. Like a great treasure or a valuable pearl, the kingdom is worth giving up everything else to “obtain.” The invitation is open to everyone. Like a great net, it sweeps through the world capturing everyone. Only those who refuse to conform their lives to it will find themselves cast out. The kingdom is a gift but, paradoxically, one that comes at a price. Those who understand this are able to accept both his “new” teaching and recognize that it is a reflection of the “old” teaching of the law and prophets (Matthew 5:17–20).