Homily & Commentary for Sunday Week 17 Year A

1 Kings 3:5, 7-12—Solomon’s Request for Wisdom and Understanding

• Solomon’s Request: “an understanding mind” to “discern between good and evil”

Psalm 119—Lord, I Love Your Law

• God’s Law: “better than thousands of gold… pieces” (v. 72) “my delight” (v. 77)
• Love of Scripture: “I love” God’s commandments “above gold, fine gold” (v. 127)
• Wisdom: “imparts understanding to the simple” (v. 130)

Romans 8:28-30—God Predestined Us to Be Conformed to His Son

• In Everything: “God works for good with those who love him” (8:28).
  • “These words give extraordinary comfort and peace. God’s great providential plan is shown in Christ. The world is a messed up place. God hates sin and death. Not satisfied. God went all the way to the bottom of our dysfunction to set things right” (Bishop Barron).
• “Predestined” (Greek proorizō) to be conformed to “the image of his Son” (8:29)

Matthew 13:44-52—The Treasure in the Field, the Pearl of Great Price, the Dragnet

1. The Treasure Hidden in the Field (13:44)

2. The Pearl of Great Price (13:45)

3. The Cast Net: (13:47-50)

4. The Scribe of the Kingdom: brings out of his “treasure” both “new” and “old”