1st READING
Solomon’s request for wisdom has pleased the Lord. But later on, his responses will displease Him. Even though we walk on the right path, still there is no guarantee that we will not stray in the future. This is the gift of freewill. Let us pray for the grace of final perseverance. May we persevere to the end in the ways of faith and not give in to sin along the way.
1 Kings 3:5, 7-12
5 The Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream at night. God said, “Ask something of me and I will give it to you.” 7 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. 8 I serve you in the midst of the people whom you have chosen, a people so vast that it cannot be numbered or counted. 9 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?” 10 The Lord was pleased that Solomon made this request. 11 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—12 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.”
PSALM
Psalm 119:57, 72, 76-77, 127-128, 129-130
R: Lord, I love your commands.
57 I have said, O Lord, that my part is to keep your words. 72 The law of your mouth is to me more precious than thousands of gold and silver pieces. (R) 76 Let your kindness comfort me according to your promise to your servants. 77 Let your compassion come to me that I may live, for your law is my delight. (R) 127 For I love your commands more than gold, however fine. 128 For in all your precepts I go forward; every false way I hate. (R) 129 Wonderful are your decrees; therefore I observe them. 130 The revelation of your words sheds light, giving understanding to the simple. (R)
2nd READING
God will always give us the sufficient grace to pass through any trial or suffering and complete any task or mission. Do you believe this? Are you willing to offer your life to God? Let us pray that when trials come, we will remember our conviction and entrust everything to Him who has the power to see us through.
Romans 8:28-30
28 Brothers and sisters: We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined he also called; and those he called he also justified; and those he justified he also glorified.
GOSPEL
Tradition is a great source of learning and wisdom. Old truth and wisdom are still relevant to people today. God is the source of all wisdom from generation to generation. What was true for our ancestors will still be true for us today.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
Blessed are you Father, Lord of heaven and earth; for you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the kingdom.
Matthew 13:44-52 (or Matthew 13:44-46)
44 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. 45 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls.
46 When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it. 47 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net thrown into the sea, which collects fish of every kind. 48 When it is full they haul it ashore and sit down to put what is good into buckets. What is bad they throw away.
49 Thus it will be at the end of the age. The angels will go out and separate the wicked from the righteous 50 and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth. 51 “Do you understand all these things?” They answered, “Yes.” 52 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.”
Reflect: What or who is your pearl of great price? How precious is this pearl to you?
CAPTIVATED
Jesus continues to describe the Kingdom of God in today’s Gospel. This time, He focuses on its powerful attraction. Jesus depicts this Kingdom of God as so attractive or captivating that once a person discovers it, he or she would be willing to give up everything to possess it.
Today’s Gospel challenges us to ask ourselves: Have we allowed ourselves to be fully captivated by the Kingdom of God? Jesus says, “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you besides.” What the Lord Jesus is telling us is basically this: Love God above everything else, above everybody else. Surrender to His will, situate all the other concerns of your life—legitimate as they are—within that overarching framework. Your life must be, first and last, about God. What you must be concerned about, first and last, is God. And then the rest of your life, with all its concerns and issues, its activities and affairs, its worries and anxieties, will fall into place . . . it will have the right orientation.
Let us allow ourselves to be so captivated by the Kingdom of God. So captivated that we will set aside everything else and make the Kingdom the focus of our life—not our personal ambitions, plans, or projects. So captivated that we will renounce the evil ways of selfishness and make God’s way of selflessness our way—denying ourselves and being other-oriented. So captivated that we will leave all worldly attachments and addictions and make the Kingdom values as the moving principle of our life—detaching ourselves from material wealth and possessions, from political power and influence, from social status and prestige, from public approval and admiration, from other worldly things. So captivated that we will give up everything, “sell all that we have,” to have that greatest wealth, which is the Kingdom of God. Fr. Nelson Orqueta
---------- REFLECTION QUESTION -----------
Have you allowed yourself to be fully captivated by the Kingdom of God?
May I love You, Lord, above everything else. Amen.
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