Sunday Reflections - SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME – YEAR A

LIGHT FOR THE LIVING

SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME – YEAR A

(1 Kings 3:5, 7–12; Romans 8:28–30; Matthew 13:44–53)

My beloved in Christ,

In a peaceful farming community in Ogun State, there lived a wealthy cocoa merchant called Chief Adekunle. His compound had everything a man could desire—big houses, barns full of cocoa, dozens of workers, motorcycles, cars and even a loud generator that announced itself every evening before the village cocks had finished crowing.

Whenever visitors came, Chief Adekunle would proudly stretch out his hands and say,

"Look around! There is nothing money cannot buy."

One afternoon, while he was boasting as usual, he noticed something that disturbed him.

Across the dusty village square, a group of children were laughing so loudly that even the goats stopped chewing to look at them.

The children had no toys.

No expensive clothes.

No mobile phones.

They had tied empty milk tins together with rope, made a little cart, and were pulling one another round the village.

Whenever one child fell into the dust, the others laughed, lifted the child up, dusted him off, and continued playing.

Their laughter echoed through the village.

Chief Adekunle looked at them and shook his head.

"Poor children."

Just then, an old widow called Mama Bisi passed by carrying firewood.

She smiled and replied,

"Chief, they may be poor in possessions, but today they are richer than you."

The Chief frowned.

"What do you mean?"

Mama Bisi answered gently,

"When was the last time you laughed like that?"

The Chief became silent.

That evening, although he ate from plates filled with delicious food, he hardly touched them.

The children's laughter kept ringing in his ears.

A week later, the Chief invited the village children to his compound.

He expected them to admire his wealth.

Instead, they quickly turned his large compound into a playground.

Some chased butterflies.

Some climbed mango trees.

Some played hide-and-seek behind his expensive vehicles.

Before long, even the old Chief found himself laughing as one little boy boldly declared,

"Chief, your mango tree is more useful than your big car because we can climb the tree!"

Everyone burst into laughter—including the Chief himself.

Looking at the children, he quietly said,

"So happiness was living here all along, but I was too busy counting my money to notice it."

An elderly man nearby nodded and said,

"A house filled with love is richer than a house filled only with gold."

 

What Is the Real Treasure?

My beloved, today's Gospel asks one of the greatest questions every human being must answer:

What is the greatest treasure in life?

Jesus gives two beautiful parables.

"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field... in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field."
(Matthew 13:44)

Again He says,

"The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls. When he found one pearl of great price, he sold everything and bought it."
(Matthew 13:45–46)

Notice something remarkable.

Neither man was forced.

Neither complained.

They sold everything joyfully, because they had discovered something infinitely more valuable.

The Kingdom of God is worth more than every earthly possession combined.

 

The Essence of Life

Many people spend their entire lives pursuing wealth, influence, beauty, fame or power.

These things are not evil in themselves.

But they are never the purpose of our existence.

The Book of Ecclesiastes reminds us:

"Vanity of vanities! Vanity of vanities! All is vanity."
(Ecclesiastes 1:2)

The sacred writer is not condemning honest work or material blessings.

Rather, he teaches that nothing created can permanently satisfy the human heart.

Every earthly achievement eventually passes away.

Money changes owners.

Buildings grow old.

Titles are forgotten.

Even physical strength fades with age.

But the Kingdom of God endures forever.

Our greatest purpose is therefore not merely to become rich, famous or powerful.

Our greatest purpose is to know God, love Him, serve Him faithfully in this life, and enjoy everlasting happiness with Him in Heaven.

As Saint Augustine beautifully wrote:

"Our hearts are restless until they rest in You."

 

Why Are Children So Happy?

Think again about those children in Ogun State.

They possessed almost nothing.

Yet they possessed something many wealthy adults have lost.

They delighted in one another.

A child's happiness is rarely tied to ownership.

Children laugh because they play together.

They forgive quickly.

They share easily.

When one child begins to cry, the joy of the group disappears until everyone joins in comforting the little one.

Their happiness becomes complete only when everyone is happy.

Perhaps this is why Jesus said:

"Unless you turn and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."
(Matthew 18:3)

And again,

"Let the little children come to me... for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven."
(Matthew 19:14)

Our Lord was not asking us to become childish.

He was asking us to become childlike—trusting God completely, loving sincerely, forgiving generously and finding joy in the good of others.

 

True Happiness Is Shared Happiness

Many people imagine that happiness comes from accumulating more.

The Gospel points in another direction.

A husband cannot truly be happy while his wife lives in sorrow.

Parents cannot rejoice when their children are in misery.

A community cannot know lasting peace while neighbours suffer from injustice.

In the Kingdom of God, our joy is completed when we become instruments of another person's joy.

This explains why our Lord teaches:

"It is more blessed to give than to receive."
(Acts 20:35)

The happiest people are often not those who possess the most, but those who love the most.

 

Solomon Asked for the Right Treasure

The First Reading gives us the example of King Solomon.

God invited him to ask for anything.

Many would have asked for riches.

Others for military power.

Some for long life.

But Solomon prayed:

"Give your servant an understanding heart to govern your people."
(1 Kings 3:9)

He desired wisdom—not for selfish ambition, but so that he might serve God's people well.

Because he sought first God's will, God added many other blessings.

This perfectly anticipates the teaching of Jesus:

"Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be given to you as well."
(Matthew 6:33)

God delights in blessing those who first desire Him.

 

Everything Works for Good

Saint Paul gives us another comforting assurance:

"We know that all things work together for good for those who love God."
(Romans 8:28)

This does not mean every experience is pleasant.

It means that even suffering, disappointment and loss can become instruments leading us toward eternal life when we remain faithful to God.

The treasure of Heaven is worth every sacrifice made on earth.

 

Light for the Living Today

Chief Adekunle eventually discovered what his barns could never contain.

The richest possession is not what fills our compound but what fills our heart.

A person may possess millions yet remain miserable.

Another may own very little yet overflow with peace because God reigns in the heart.

The Kingdom of Heaven is the greatest treasure.

To possess it, we may need to "sell" selfishness, pride, hatred, envy, greed, dishonesty, immorality and every attachment that keeps us far from God.

No price is too high for eternal life.

For when earthly treasures end, God's Kingdom is only beginning.

 

Sunday Reflection

My beloved,

Solomon's desire to serve the Israelites led him to ask for wisdom, and every other thing was added to him by God.

Our greatest desire too must be to acquire the Kingdom of God, which requires selling everything in order to possess it.

What are you willing to sell in order to acquire the Kingdom of God?

Could it be selfishness, envy, stealing, an immoral life, or any attachment that distances you from God?

Make that decision today and put it into action.

May God bless you.

Happy Sunday!

Rev. Fr. Chinedu Ibearugbulem, C.S.Sp