Lectionary # 110. Scripture for Sunday, A Cycle, 17th Sunday, July 27,2008

Scripture: Sunday, July 27, 2008, A Cycle for 17th Sunday. I Kings
3:5.7-12. Psalm 119:57.72.76-77.127-128,129-130. Romans 8:28-30. Matthew
13:44-52. Lectionary # 110:

Solomon is the son of David and King of Israel-Judah. He is
symbolized by the expression "the wisdom of Solomon." Almost all of the
Wisdom literature in the Writings of the Bible are attributed to him. We
see him at the beginning of his reign as king; he is at prayer and wisely
asks God for understanding, discernment resulting in good judgment. He
possesses these gifts because God listens to his request to have them. We
know through the Scriptures of his many good judgments and unfortunately of
his bad ones, but today we rejoice in the good ones he made at the
beginning of his reign after David's death (961-922 B.C.). After his death,
the kingdom is divided into the North--Israel and the South--Judah. We
learn from this reading to ask for the gifts of the Holy Spirit: wisdom,
understanding, knowledge, piety, fear of the Lord, counsel, fortitude.
We listen to three more parables of Jesus and a parable about the
prudent and wise scribe. These parables are addressed to the disciples of
Jesus and that now means us. All of the parables have has their point of
emphasis the great and overwhelming joy that is brought to a disciple of
Jesus for having sacrificed their lives for the "treasure hidden in the
field", for the "pearl of great price" and for the great catch of fish
through the huge net hauling them in. This call to be a disciple enables
us to leave everything to which we are inordinately attached and to follow
the Lord despite the apparent loss of such attachments. For us this is
more in the spiritual realm, but we feel the pinch even there by not
following our own lights. Our priorities become the Gospel values and
generous services we are to give to others.
Paul persuasively confirms the joy of such a calling and its rewards.
We are first called, then predestined for God, then made holy, and finally
glorified in the kingdom of God.
Finally, Jesus ends the three parables by a concise summary: "Well
then, every scribe who becomes a DISCIPLE of the Kingdom of Heaven is like
a householder who brings out from his storeroom new things as well as old."
Discipleship therefore has its cost but also its benefits. Amen.