Year A
Discover the deeper meaning and connections found in this week's readings, through these great commentaries written by our priests.
Explore this week's readings and hear what God is saying to us through His Word.
Find out more about how we can mark this special day in our liturgy.
See our music recommendations for the liturgy.
Even if the school holidays do not impact on you directly, life is a little more relaxed - except for parents! Perhaps there is more of an opportunity to listen to God's word, and to be open to the wisdom to seek first the things of the kingdom of heaven.
1 Kings 3:5, 7-12
What a wonderful example of prayer the young Solomon, who has succeeded King David, gives to us, especially, to those of us who carry responsibility in our families, at work, and in the community. King Solomon prays for "a heart to understand how to discern between good and evil" in governing God's people. He prays not for riches or success but for wisdom.
Romans 8:28-30
As Paul writes, ultimately God has called us to share in his glory. On that journey "to become true images of his Son", God is with us and works with us through all the ups and downs of life. God wants us to be the younger brothers and sisters of his Son.
Matthew 13:44-52
Jesus teaches his disciples, using four more parables about the Kingdom of Heaven. The first two parables are about commitment and dedication. Like the one who found the treasure and the one who found the pearl, we must put all our energy into doing God's will. The third parable is about judgement and the need to sustain our efforts especially when times are hard and others seem to begiving up. The fourth parable encourages us to learn from old and new experiences on the way to the Kingdom.
Let us pray for the wisdom to respond wholeheartedly to God's grace and not be deflected from following Jesus who is the way to the Kingdom of Heaven.
Today is the 3rd and final Sunday of Parables of the Kingdom gospel readings.
For a concise treatment of the Kingdom of God, please see CCC. Paras. 541-560.
The parable form is not easy to pin down. There are a few in the Old Testament, and they do occur in rabbinical literature, but not with the weight that Jesus seems to use them. Moreover, the meaning of Jesus’ parables is often far from clear, even mystifying. When Jesus asks the crowds, “Have you understood all this?” and they reply, “Yes” the more honest answer might have been, “Not sure”!
Perhaps this provides us with a link to today’s First Reading: Solomon asking for wisdom, and our Psalm: discernment of God’s law. Parables require an open ear (receptivity)and an open heart (engagement), so as to arrive at sound judgement, which, incidentally, need not be the same for everyone, nor for the same person at different times.
Finally, both of our Gospel Acclamation choices obliquely reference wisdom, one as knowledge, the other as discernment. Which is better?
608 Take my hands (L)
798 Jesus, the very thought of thee (L)
820 Seek ye first the Kingdon of God (L)
874 Take my life (L)
910 Christ beside me (L)
969 Lord of all hopefulness (L)
970 Be thou my vision (L)
Key
L = Laudate
Do you have questions about the liturgy and how we are called to participate in it? Explore how the Church councils, saints, and popes have answered this key question and many more.
Every movement of the Mass is rich in meaning but we can become over-familiar with it. Rediscover the Mass and explore how it relates to the Exodus story, where many of its rituals come from, and how it makes Jesus present to us today.
