Reading 1
The LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream at night.
God said, "Ask something of me and I will give it to you."
Solomon answered:
"O LORD, my God, you have made me, your servant, king
to succeed my father David;
but I am a mere youth, not knowing at all how to act.
I serve you in the midst of the people whom you have chosen,
a people so vast that it cannot be numbered or counted.
Give your servant, therefore, an understanding heart
to judge your people and to distinguish right from wrong.
For who is able to govern this vast people of yours?"
The LORD was pleased that Solomon made this request.
So God said to him:
"Because you have asked for this—
not for a long life for yourself,
nor for riches,
nor for the life of your enemies,
but for understanding so that you may know what is right—
I do as you requested.
I give you a heart so wise and understanding
that there has never been anyone like you up to now,
and after you there will come no one to equal you."
Gospel
Jesus said to his disciples:
"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.
Again, 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.
"Do you understand all these things?"
They answered, "Yes."
And he replied,
"Then every scribe who has been instructed in the kingdom of heaven
is like the head of a household
who brings from his storeroom both the new and the old."
Reflection
In today’s Gospel, Jesus puts all of the desires and stresses of the world into perspective with His parables about the Kingdom of Heaven. The reality of God’s reign, already begun on earth and promised infinite glory in Heaven, is more precious than everything we own.
Jesus compares the Kingdom of Heaven to treasure in a field: so valuable that someone would sell all he has to buy the field and own the treasure. The next parable is similar, comparing the Kingdom to a pearl of great price, which a merchant also sells everything to buy.
These parables might strike us as rather odd — Why would someone give up everything for some treasure? Isn’t the point of treasure that it can afford us more belongings and comforts? Won’t these people need to immediately sell these treasures so that they can buy replacement homes, clothes, and food? The apparent foolishness in the parables helps us understand a truth about the Kingdom of Heaven. Yes, the Kingdom of Heaven is precious like a pearl, but unlike a pearl, it does not exist to enhance earthly life. Rather, earthly life exists to usher us into the Kingdom of Heaven. Everything in our lives should be in service of God and His plans, bringing us ever closer to Him.
With this understanding, we know that the merchant was not at all foolish. He wisely understood that the pearl was not merely a step to a better life—it was the life he had been yearning for all along.
In the eyes of the world, Solomon, as seen in today’s first reading, could seem foolish to hear God’s offer of anything and only request an “understanding heart.” In a way, he, like the merchant in the parable, “gave up” everything for the sake of one gem. For Solomon, the gem was not a pearl representing the Kingdom of Heaven, but rather the wisdom to rule God’s kingdom well. Of course, Solomon was not being foolish. He had the humility and perspective to see what was really important. He sensed that a long life or riches would be useless to him if he were a terrible king.
So, let us ask ourselves, what good is everything we have, if it does not bring us closer to God? Please join me in praying for the wisdom of Solomon. May God purify our hearts and give us the grace to place Him at the center of our lives.
Please be assured of my prayers for you before Our Lord, present in the Most Blessed Sacrament.
+ Bishop Schlert
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