In the famous prayer attributed to Saint Francis, we ask that we “understand” rather than “be understood.” Do we? Don’t we begin our interactions with a message we want heard, understood, and acted on? Do we, like Solomon, want an understanding heart?
God reveals to us how we are to live. God gives us the wisdom of creation. God gave us his teachings – through the law and the prophets – to help us decide what is good and what is bad. God went even further. He gives us Jesus, his only Son, to show us the way by walking with us on the way. Jesus is both the path and the pattern of our lives. The kingdom of God is here. We can find it anywhere and, when we do, we will be filled with joy and gladly sell everything to possess it. We must search for the kingdom of God. When we find it, we must sell all we have to possess it. The kingdom of God is here, gathering both the good and the bad into his nets. The righteous must live in the world with the wicked.
Missionaries are “instructed in the kingdom of heaven.” Missionary-disciples believe they will find the great treasure in every place, among every people, and are willing to give everything to be there. Mission folk seek out the kingdom of God wherever they are and will sell everything to posses it. Missionaries seek the good and call all people to righteousness. Joyfully they seek the good, the treasure, the priceless pearl, and give all they are over to it. They do not even sort out the good and bad – they leave that to others.
Notes on the Sunday Readings
First Reading
King Solomon prays for “an understanding heart” so can he distinguish right from wrong, judge rightly, and govern God’s people well.
Psalm
The psalmist sings of their love for God’s commands, that his law is a delight. The law of God is teaching, a guidance, on the right way to live.
Second Reading
Saint Paul teaches us that God calls those who love him for a purpose. God wants us “to be conformed to the image of his Son,” the first born among many sisters and brothers.
Gospel
Jesus directs the parables in today’s Gospel from St. Matthew to his disciples. They have left the crowd, went into “the house,” and Jesus explains the parable of the wheat and the weeds. This week, Jesus teaches us with the parable of the treasure hidden in the field, the pearl of great price, and the dragnet that catches all types of fish, both the good and the bad. Jesus asks the disciples directly if they understood. “Yes,” they replied. Those instructed “in the kingdom of heaven” will be like the head of a household bringing forth both the new and the old.
Connections
Go Forth… is forming missionary disciples with understanding hearts and sharing their work:
Our podcast guests this week are Brother Larry Johnson and Tania Delgado of Glenmary Missions. Subscribe on Apple or Spotify!
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