HOMILY FOR THE 17TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR A. (5)

HOMILY FOR THE 17TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR A.

THEME: The Choices We Make.

BY: Fr. Luke Ijezie

1Kings 3:5,7-12
Psalm 119:57,72,76-77,127-130
Romans 8:28-30
Matthew 13:44-52

Our lives both as individuals and as a community depend very much on the choices we make. This goes directly against the philosophy of determinism which holds that what will be will be no matter what we do. Modern philosophical thinking helps us understand that we can take our destiny in our hands by thinking and acting properly. This is what distinguishes human beings from other creatures who act on the basis of instinct. While many contingent factors add up to influence our course of life, we succeed largely to the extent we are able to reason properly through adequate understanding of issues, right judgement and proper discernment between good and evil. This is exactly what King Solomon asks of God in the first reading of today. It is also a central point in all the other readings of this seventeenth Sunday of the liturgical year.

1. In the first reading from 1Kgs 3:5,7-12, Solomon is, as it were, given a blank cheque by God to request whatever favour from Him. One’s requests and decisions tell a lot about one’s character and value system. Solomon asks for right thinking and right understanding which would enable him judge rightly and act rightly. In making this request his ultimate aim is to anchor his choices on God’s will and not on the human sentimental way of looking at issues. Most of the problems we encounter in relationships border on the inability and impatience to reason deeply and avoid judging by appearances. We are easily deceived by the ephemeral, the transitory and all that glitters which, of course, is not always gold. In his wise request, Solomon is telling God that the divine will means more to him than riches and victory in battle.

2. The second reading from Rom 8:28-30 tells us that God has a way of turning all things unto good for those who love Him and act according to His will and purpose. For such people, every disappointment turns into a blessing, and every adversity becomes an opportunity for greater growth.

3. The wise man projected in the three parables in the Gospel of today from Matt 13:44-52 is one who knows how to penetrate the depths and make right choices in the face of many appearances. Only the vision of a greater treasure can make one to sell all that one possesses. The option of the wise person is always for the higher value, whether in the case of a man who has found a hidden treasure in a field or a merchant looking for precious pearls or a fisherman faced with many types of fish to choose. Any choice made conditions the life of the chooser. And only the wise and well motivated make the right choices. Jesus admonishes us that our lifestyle can only change when we begin to reorder our priorities and value system. We find peace and harmony when we place our hearts on things that last rather than on fleeting deceptions.

May the Spirit of God accompany us always as we make choices for ourselves and for others!

FOR MORE HOMILIES CLICK >>>>>