News & Events
17th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Posted in News
26th. July 2026
Matthew 13:44-52
The Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a
man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all
he had and bought that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a
merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value,
he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.
The Parable of the Net
“Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let
down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. 48 When it was full,
the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and
collected the good fish in baskets but threw the bad away. 49 This is
how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and
separate the wicked from the righteous 50 and throw them into the
blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Jesus asked, “Have you understood all these
things?” Yes,” they replied. He said to them, “Therefore every
teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven
is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new
treasures as well as old.”
______________________________
Homily
My dear sisters and brothers, the readings which the church has given
to us for this, the 17th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Cycle A, call us to
look seriously at our lifestyle, at the decisions which we make in
life and the consequences of those decisions. The first reading gives
us the story of a young Solomon, who inherited the position of
leadership from his father David. Solomon is wise enough to know that
he is young, and following his father David calls for a life of true
wisdom. He needs to know what is right from what is wrong, what is
good for the people he is now called to lead and what must be avoided.
Solomon is totally concerned about the life of the people entrusted to
him. He does not selfishly seek anything for himself and God is
pleased with Solomon precisely because Solomon asks for discerning
judgment, not to benefit himself but for the good of the people
entrusted to Him. Is it not that my dear brothers and sisters, the
attitude which all of us must have when we are in positions of
authority? Must not my dear brothers and sisters, the prayer of
Solomon become our prayer also as we take on the task of leading
others, be that as parents or as superiors.
Matthew 13:44-52
The Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a
man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all
he had and bought that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a
merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value,
he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.
The Parable of the Net
“Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let
down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. 48 When it was full,
the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and
collected the good fish in baskets but threw the bad away. 49 This is
how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and
separate the wicked from the righteous 50 and throw them into the
blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Jesus asked, “Have you understood all these
things?” Yes,” they replied. He said to them, “Therefore every
teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven
is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new
treasures as well as old.”
______________________________
Homily
My dear sisters and brothers, the readings which the church has given
to us for this, the 17th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Cycle A, call us to
look seriously at our lifestyle, at the decisions which we make in
life and the consequences of those decisions. The first reading gives
us the story of a young Solomon, who inherited the position of
leadership from his father David. Solomon is wise enough to know that
he is young, and following his father David calls for a life of true
wisdom. He needs to know what is right from what is wrong, what is
good for the people he is now called to lead and what must be avoided.
Solomon is totally concerned about the life of the people entrusted to
him. He does not selfishly seek anything for himself and God is
pleased with Solomon precisely because Solomon asks for discerning
judgment, not to benefit himself but for the good of the people
entrusted to Him. Is it not that my dear brothers and sisters, the
attitude which all of us must have when we are in positions of
authority? Must not my dear brothers and sisters, the prayer of
Solomon become our prayer also as we take on the task of leading
others, be that as parents or as superiors.
In the second reading given to us, we are given the story of the pearl
of great price, and I remembered an incident which happened during one
of my last years as a seminarian. I met a beautiful girl and believed
that I had fallen in love with her. I went through a difficult period
as I weighed my options. I asked myself, if God truly wanted me to be
a priest. I thought of the reaction of family and friends if I left
the seminary after so many years. I did not know what I should do.
Finally, I went to my spiritual director, the abbot of a benedictine
monastery. I explained the problem to him, my doubts and my fears. He
listened carefully and then said one sentence, which I have never
forgotten. He said to me, “Be careful that you do not give up the
pearl of great price for one of far lesser value. That one phrase
settled my mind. I have never forgotten it. The problem for each one
of us is recognizing “the pearl of great price”. For me it was
religious life as a priest, for others it may be the study of medicine
or law or some other career, for others it may be agriculture. The
important thing in life is to discover that pearl of great price and
the dedication of our lives to acquiring it. The pearl of great price
is rarely easy to acquire. In the parable given to us for our
reflection, the merchant of fine pearls had to sell everything which
he had in order to acquire that pearl of great price, but having
acquired it he could live a fulfilled life. He was happy.
The important thing for us to remember and always keep in mind is that
the pearl of great price is always related to the Kingdom of God, that
Kingdom above all others which creates a universe of Justice, of Peace
and of love. That Kingdom and its coming into being is never about
oneself. In the parable about the net, the Kingdom is described as the
sorting of fish, good and bad. Good fish are those whose dedication to
building the Kingdom here on earth has been the characterizing element
of their lives. They breathe Justice. They live justice, they build
justice. Selfishness in thought and action does not characterize them.
Bad fish are those whose lives have been characterized by selfishness,
selfishness which hurts others. The parable tells us that at the end,
at the end of the age this is what will happen. The angels will come
and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the
blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
My dear sisters and brothers, the question for each one of us will be
or is What must I do to escape the end described. For that we must
return to the first reading from the first book of Kings in which the
young man Solomon, called to replace his father as King, asks to be
given the Gift of wisdom. He tells God, “Give your servant a heart
to understand how to discern between good and evil, for who could
govern this people of yours that is so great.” God’s answer is this,
“Since you have asked for this and not asked for long life for
yourself or riches or the lives of your enemies, but have asked for a
discerning judgment for yourself, here and now I do what you ask. I
give you a heart wise and shrewd as none before you has had and none
will have after you.“ If we are truly concerned with building this
kingdom of Justice, Peace and Love, it must be the defining prayer of
every person
My dear brothers and sisters, the church down
through the ages has taught that honesty and justice are essential
elements of the following of Christ. Since the 19th century however,
with Pope Leo LXIII, the social doctrine of the Church has been given
greater importance, calling all believers to correct the greed and
selfishness that was part and parcel of societal life.
Through more recent popes, the church has continued its call for a
return to the values of the early disciples. In the book, A Good Life,
Pope Francis offers one of his most personal and enduring works—a
wise, accessible, and deeply human guide to the daily habits that
shaped his life and can transform yours. Drawn from a lifetime of
spiritual leadership, this book presents fifteen essential practices
that sustained him through decades of ministry, global crisis, and
private trials. This is not a list of abstract virtues or lofty
theology. These are real, lived habits like gratitude, simplicity,
mercy, connection, and spiritual attentiveness—that anyone can begin
to adopt, no matter their background or beliefs. With signature
humility and directness, Francis writes not from a pedestal, but from
a place of shared humanity, inviting readers to rediscover the sacred
in the ordinary. Completed shortly before his passing, A Good Life is
more than a book, it’s a legacy. It’s an offering from a man who lived
what he taught, and who believed that joy and goodness are always
possible, even in the hardest moments. If you read this book, you’ll
discover:
How to find joy in imperfection and beauty in brokenness
The importance of face-to-face connection in a digital world
A refreshing, practical path to living with integrity and hope
What it means to live each day as if it truly matters.
If this book is read, we will find that it calls us back to seeking
the wisdom enunciated in the prayer of Solomon and it will help us to
recreate in our own lives the values first described in the story of
creation. That story is a story, never completed but never ended. It
continues in villages in Paraguay where the dream of having all things
in common has never ended, it continues in religious communities in
which the focus is not oneself but God’s will and it continues in
refugee camps and like places where disciples of Jesus struggle to
build communities in which the dignity of every person is sought and
respected.
The question for every one of us then is very simple. Have I made
God’s dream of the garden of Eden my own project? Do I spend time
trying to recreate it? If the answer is Yes, then you know that like
St. Paul you are running the good race. If the answer is “No”, then
you know that God is calling you to begin the task of recreation. May
the great saints of the church, saints like Teresa of Calcutta, and
Mons Romero of El Salvador accompany you as you take on the task of
recreation.
Prayer
All powerful and ever-loving God, You created and gifted us a world of
total harmony. You asked us to respect that world and to keep it as a
place of peace, all place in which love would be the defining
character of humanity. Unfortunately, selfishness took root and all
humanity lost the happiness which you desired for us. Because you
loved us despite our sinfulness, you sent you son, to teach us that
happiness is only found in self-giving not in selfishness. You call us
to imitate your son so that the world may become once again a place of
harmony. Strengthen us Father so that we may overcome the attacks and
wiles of the evil one. Help us to understand that it is only in and
through your son Jesus, that we will overcome the attacks of the evil
one and live an eternity of total happiness with you and all the
saints. We ask this through the intercession of Mary our mother and
Jesus, your son. Amen.
of great price, and I remembered an incident which happened during one
of my last years as a seminarian. I met a beautiful girl and believed
that I had fallen in love with her. I went through a difficult period
as I weighed my options. I asked myself, if God truly wanted me to be
a priest. I thought of the reaction of family and friends if I left
the seminary after so many years. I did not know what I should do.
Finally, I went to my spiritual director, the abbot of a benedictine
monastery. I explained the problem to him, my doubts and my fears. He
listened carefully and then said one sentence, which I have never
forgotten. He said to me, “Be careful that you do not give up the
pearl of great price for one of far lesser value. That one phrase
settled my mind. I have never forgotten it. The problem for each one
of us is recognizing “the pearl of great price”. For me it was
religious life as a priest, for others it may be the study of medicine
or law or some other career, for others it may be agriculture. The
important thing in life is to discover that pearl of great price and
the dedication of our lives to acquiring it. The pearl of great price
is rarely easy to acquire. In the parable given to us for our
reflection, the merchant of fine pearls had to sell everything which
he had in order to acquire that pearl of great price, but having
acquired it he could live a fulfilled life. He was happy.
The important thing for us to remember and always keep in mind is that
the pearl of great price is always related to the Kingdom of God, that
Kingdom above all others which creates a universe of Justice, of Peace
and of love. That Kingdom and its coming into being is never about
oneself. In the parable about the net, the Kingdom is described as the
sorting of fish, good and bad. Good fish are those whose dedication to
building the Kingdom here on earth has been the characterizing element
of their lives. They breathe Justice. They live justice, they build
justice. Selfishness in thought and action does not characterize them.
Bad fish are those whose lives have been characterized by selfishness,
selfishness which hurts others. The parable tells us that at the end,
at the end of the age this is what will happen. The angels will come
and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the
blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
My dear sisters and brothers, the question for each one of us will be
or is What must I do to escape the end described. For that we must
return to the first reading from the first book of Kings in which the
young man Solomon, called to replace his father as King, asks to be
given the Gift of wisdom. He tells God, “Give your servant a heart
to understand how to discern between good and evil, for who could
govern this people of yours that is so great.” God’s answer is this,
“Since you have asked for this and not asked for long life for
yourself or riches or the lives of your enemies, but have asked for a
discerning judgment for yourself, here and now I do what you ask. I
give you a heart wise and shrewd as none before you has had and none
will have after you.“ If we are truly concerned with building this
kingdom of Justice, Peace and Love, it must be the defining prayer of
every person
My dear brothers and sisters, the church down
through the ages has taught that honesty and justice are essential
elements of the following of Christ. Since the 19th century however,
with Pope Leo LXIII, the social doctrine of the Church has been given
greater importance, calling all believers to correct the greed and
selfishness that was part and parcel of societal life.
Through more recent popes, the church has continued its call for a
return to the values of the early disciples. In the book, A Good Life,
Pope Francis offers one of his most personal and enduring works—a
wise, accessible, and deeply human guide to the daily habits that
shaped his life and can transform yours. Drawn from a lifetime of
spiritual leadership, this book presents fifteen essential practices
that sustained him through decades of ministry, global crisis, and
private trials. This is not a list of abstract virtues or lofty
theology. These are real, lived habits like gratitude, simplicity,
mercy, connection, and spiritual attentiveness—that anyone can begin
to adopt, no matter their background or beliefs. With signature
humility and directness, Francis writes not from a pedestal, but from
a place of shared humanity, inviting readers to rediscover the sacred
in the ordinary. Completed shortly before his passing, A Good Life is
more than a book, it’s a legacy. It’s an offering from a man who lived
what he taught, and who believed that joy and goodness are always
possible, even in the hardest moments. If you read this book, you’ll
discover:
How to find joy in imperfection and beauty in brokenness
The importance of face-to-face connection in a digital world
A refreshing, practical path to living with integrity and hope
What it means to live each day as if it truly matters.
If this book is read, we will find that it calls us back to seeking
the wisdom enunciated in the prayer of Solomon and it will help us to
recreate in our own lives the values first described in the story of
creation. That story is a story, never completed but never ended. It
continues in villages in Paraguay where the dream of having all things
in common has never ended, it continues in religious communities in
which the focus is not oneself but God’s will and it continues in
refugee camps and like places where disciples of Jesus struggle to
build communities in which the dignity of every person is sought and
respected.
The question for every one of us then is very simple. Have I made
God’s dream of the garden of Eden my own project? Do I spend time
trying to recreate it? If the answer is Yes, then you know that like
St. Paul you are running the good race. If the answer is “No”, then
you know that God is calling you to begin the task of recreation. May
the great saints of the church, saints like Teresa of Calcutta, and
Mons Romero of El Salvador accompany you as you take on the task of
recreation.
Prayer
All powerful and ever-loving God, You created and gifted us a world of
total harmony. You asked us to respect that world and to keep it as a
place of peace, all place in which love would be the defining
character of humanity. Unfortunately, selfishness took root and all
humanity lost the happiness which you desired for us. Because you
loved us despite our sinfulness, you sent you son, to teach us that
happiness is only found in self-giving not in selfishness. You call us
to imitate your son so that the world may become once again a place of
harmony. Strengthen us Father so that we may overcome the attacks and
wiles of the evil one. Help us to understand that it is only in and
through your son Jesus, that we will overcome the attacks of the evil
one and live an eternity of total happiness with you and all the
saints. We ask this through the intercession of Mary our mother and
Jesus, your son. Amen.
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