Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Also Read: Mass Readings for 30 July 2023 Homily for 30 July 2023 – Sunday
First Reading: First Kings 3: 5, 7-12
Give therefore to thy servant an understanding heart, to judge thy people, and discern between good and evil. For who shall be able to judge this people, thy people which is so numerous? (9)
We ask the Lord today for wisdom, discernment, good counsel, understanding, and courage! Solomon was blessed by God with much more than what he had asked for, we too today have been blessed in so many ways. Yet we forget to thank the Lord for all his blessings and crib about all that we do not have. We ask the Lord for contentment too!
In Jesus’ name, Amen!
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 119: 57, 72, 76-77, 127-130
Therefore have I loved thy commandments above gold and the topaz. Therefore was I directed to all thy commandments: I have hated all wicked ways. (127-128)
When we love the Lord’s commandments, and keep them; He will bless us with wisdom.
Amen!
Second Reading: Romans 8: 28-30
And we know that to them that love God, all things work together unto good, to such as, according to his purpose, are called to be saints. (28)
We must believe that all things work out for our good. We ought to learn the lessons he teaches us through our trials. When we follow his precepts, when we listen to the subtle promptings in our hearts; we will truly find that “all things work together unto good” for us!
In Jesus’ name, Amen!
Gospel: Matthew 13: 44-52
He said unto them: Therefore every scribe instructed in the kingdom of heaven, is like to a man that is a householder, who bringeth forth out of his treasure new things and old. (52)
Someone lost in the desert will be grateful to find an oasis of water suddenly. But then, he/she would immediately run and inform their co-travelers about this oasis. There wouldn’t be much meaning in trying to keep this oasis for oneself! Similarly, the kingdom of heaven must be shared with whatever means we have available to us! If we truly believe we are redeemed, we would ensure that each and everyone with whom we come into contact would know about this great joy. We are a chosen people and we ought to carry our joy with us! That would be the surest way to share the kingdom of God. Let every little thing we say and do, be wrapped in the joy of our Lord!
In Jesus’ name, Amen! Alleluia, Amen!
