17th Sunday in OT, 2017

1 KGS 3:5, 7-12
ROM 8:28-30
MT 13:44-52

“Teach me what is mine to know.”

Like Solomon, we pray for wisdom, but unlike him, we confuse prayed for and patiently awaited wisdom, with instant knowledge and information available to us with a key stroke. Wisdom can only be given by the Lord, and is manifested in our whispered intuition about human characteristics, our relationship with Him, and the meaning of life. My mother used to say, “Everyone knows a little tiny bit of Truth that nobody else knows.” Let’s call that tinny little Truth Wisdom.

In Alter’s translation of the 1 Kings, Solomon is characterizing the Israelites, not as ‘vast’ but as ‘heavy’ (1). The word ‘heavy’ is a great description of many of the interactions or situations will deal with in our everyday. We find consolation for Jesus said, “My yoke is easy, and my burden light.” When we read 1 Kings:3, we learn God’s gift of wisdom to Solomon is conditional. He must follow God’s statutes and commandments: a condition he does not meet (2). Jesus says in Matthew 13:12, “For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance.” In other words, we must use Wisdom wisely before more will be bestowed.

Paul states we have been “predestined-called-justified-glorified,” echoing biblical references to the Israelites, but claiming it to be true of the New Covenant followers. For Paul ‘predestiny’ refers to the Lord’s intention for the entirety of Creation to be one with Him; in Romans 8:22, it is not just people who are groaning, but all of Creation (3). These four actions are done by the Lord, and described using the past tense. By using the past tense, Paul is suggesting with certainly and confidence the Lord has set these things in motion already, and therefore they will come to pass (4).

The parable of the buried treasure suggests developing faith and talent is a process of digging and uncovering what already exist within our heart’s and souls. Like the first, the second parable also suggests “honesty is the best policy” in legally and ethically obtaining what we recognize as valuable. Whether we stumble on buried treasure, or intentionally search for pearls, we must pay attention with an attitude of curiosity and hope. These parables teach us our priorities, activities and life-style will shift if we embrace the Gospel (3).

The scribe, an educated disciple (5) and legal expert in first-century Judaism, (6) was responsible for interpreting and teaching scripture and law. Then as now, through parables and stories, teachers connect new to old learning, experience to doctrine and information, perception to insight. Jesus implies that old understandings aren’t ignored or neglected, but built upon and adjusted as necessary. Each of us is the head of our interior household; we pull out all which is within the storeroom and spread it on a blanket in daylight. We then offer it all to the Lord for the Kingdom.

Journal Questions

Am I aware of the moments in which I’ve experienced the Lord’s presence? What Wisdom did the experiences give me? How do I respond to or express this Wisdom?
What sort of actions and words do I use daily? How would they differ if I considered myself already glorified?
What are the pearls of great price in my life? What do I or would I sacrifice to keep them?
How do I use both personal, new and old Wisdom moments as a net to haul in fishies for the Lord’s Kingdom?

References

1- Ancient Israel, Alter, Robert. W.W. Norton & Company, New York, NY. 2013.

2-The Old Testament and Apocrypha: Fortress Commentary on the Bible. Editors: Yee, Page, Coomber. Fortress Press, Minneapolis. 2014.

3-The New Testament: Fortress Commentary on the Bible. Editors: Aymer, Kittredge, Sanchez. Fortress Press, Minneapolis. 2014.

4- Galatians and Romans, Byrne, Brendan. Liturgical Press, Collegeville, Minnesota. 2010.

5-The Gospel According to Matthew, Reid, Barbara. New Collegeville Bible Commentary, Liturgical Press, Collegeville, Minnesota. 2005.

6-The Gospel of Matthew, Barclay, William. The Daily Study Bible Series, The Westminister Press, Philadephia. 1975.

Related