HOMILY FOR THE 17TH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME YEAR A.
THEME: 5 BENEFITS OF APPLYING WISDOM IN OUR SEARCH FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
BY: Rev. Fr. Chibuike C. Uwakwe
Today’s readings focus on two things: wisdom and the search for the Kingdom of God. Wisdom is considered the first gift of the Holy Spirit. It is understood as that gift of God which enables us to know the truth about the things of this world and the world to come. In other words, wisdom is the faculty to recognize the truth and make the right judgment. On the other hand, the Kingdom of God is understood both as a place where God stays with his people eternally and a state where God reigns supreme above everything. Thus, today, we shall focus on five benefits of applying wisdom in our search for the Kingdom of God:
1. WISDOM HELPS US TO RECOGNIZE AND ACKNOWLEDGE OUR LIMITATIONS. In the first reading (1 Kings 3:5.7-12), Solomon was able to recognize and acknowledge his limitations. He confessed: “I am but a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in”. This indicates that Solomon had a reasonable degree of wisdom even before he asked God for wisdom because wisdom helps us to make the right request. By default, we are always conscious of our abilities but unconscious of our limitations. Therefore, wisdom helps us to recognize and acknowledge that despite all we are and have, we are limited in the things we can do. This makes us humble and dependent on God who alone can make up for our limitations.
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2. WISDOM HELPS US TO MAKE THE RIGHT AND BETTER CHOICE. In the first reading, Solomon had the choice of asking for long life, riches, and the lives of his enemies, but he went ahead to make the right and better choice, which is asking for wisdom. In the Gospel reading (Matthew 13:44-52), the merchant had the choice of overlooking the hidden treasure since it was beyond his capital but he made the better choice of selling all he had to buy it. In life, we are always confronted with choices, sometimes, conflicting choices and wisdom helps us to make the right and better choice.
3. WISDOM HELPS US TO BE OPEN TO GOD’S DESIGN. In the second reading (Romans 8:28-30), St. Paul assures us that in everything God works for good with those who love him. It is only wisdom that will help us realize this. In the face of tribulations, the unwise are terrified and fall into error. But the wise, look up to God with confidence. With wisdom, we can trust God that amidst the changes and chances of this world, we should never lose hope in him, rather trust him, who alone can turn our disappointments into appointments and our sorrows into gladness as it happened in the lives of Abraham and Job.
4. WISDOM HELPS US TO WORK HARD AND LEGITIMATELY. In the gospel reading, the merchant didn’t discover the hidden treasure while sleeping in his house. He found it rather while he was in the field working. Today, people want to discover and possess hidden treasures not from the field but from the comfort of their homes. This is why corruption, embezzlement and cyber frauds keep increasing. Wisdom rather helps us to work hard and legitimately to meet our needs instead of engaging in these vices.
5. WISDOM HELPS US TO REMAIN CONSCIOUS OF THE DAY OF JUDGEMENT. In the gospel reading, Jesus talks of separating the good fish in the net from the bad fish, thus, pointing to the judgment that will take place at the end of time. Today, people are losing consciousness of this day of judgment and this is the reason for the proliferation of vices in our society. On its part, wisdom helps us to remember that God though merciful, is just and would repay everyone according to one’s deeds. Wisdom will help us to avoid evil and do what is right because “ it knows what is pleasing in God’s sight” (Wisdom 9:9).
With these benefits in mind, let us ask God for the gift of Wisdom and for the grace to apply this wisdom in our search for the kingdom of God. We apply wisdom when we make the right judgment in the light of the truth. Happy Sunday. God loves you.
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