Vol. 38   No. 42              JULY 24, 2011                          Cycle  A                                     XVII  SUNDAY OF THE YEAR                                   Preciousness of God's Kingdom                                              ENTRANCE ANTIPHON God is in his holy dwelling; he will give a home to the lonely, he gives power and strength to his people. (Ps 67:6-7,36) PENITENTIAL RITE Inspite of all the ups and downs in life, life itself is worth living, because it is a precious gift of God. One can make one’s life beautiful or miserable depending upon one’s attitude towards life. Solomon treasured the life of his people and hence asked God for the gift of wisdom to help and govern his people. Paul treasured his love for Jesus and realized that all things work for good, for those who love God. Jesus is inviting us today to realize the preciousness of God’s Kingdom, so that we may raise the standard of our life in the eyes of God. For the times we have neglected all the precious things that God has given us, let us ask God’s pardon and mercy. (Pause) I confess… Glory to God… OPENING  PRAYER   God our Father and protector, without you nothing is holy, nothing has value. Guide us to the everlasting life by helping us to use wisely the blessings you have given to the world. We ask this… FIRST READING (Told by God that he could have any gift he wanted, King Solomon asked God for the gift of wisdom instead of long life, riches and victory over his enemies.) A reading from the First Book of the Kings   (3:5,7-12) At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, “Ask what I shall give you.” And Solomon said, “Now, O Lord my God, thou hast made thy servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. And thy servant is in the midst of thy people whom thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered or counted for multitude. Give thy servant therefore an understanding mind to govern thy people, that I may discern between good and evil; for who is able to govern this thy great people?” It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. And God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you.” This is the Word of the Lord PSALM   (118) Response: Lord, how I love your law! My part, I have resolved, O Lord, is to obey your word. The law from your mouth means more to me than silver and gold. Let your love be ready to console me by your promise to your servant. Let your love come to me and I shall live, for your law is my delight. That is why I love your commands more than finest gold. That is why I rule my life by your precepts: I hate false ways. Your will is wonderful indeed; therefore I obey it. The unfolding of your word gives light and teaches the simple. SECOND READING (St Paul claims that all things work for good for those who love God and who are called according to his purpose.) A reading from the Letter of St Paul to the Romans   (8:28-30) We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the first-born among many brethren. And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified. This is the Word of the Lord ACCLAMATION Alleluia, alleluia! I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me. Alleluia! (Jn 14:6) GOSPEL (The Gospel presents Jesus, as a wise teacher, who compares the Kingdom of heaven to a hidden treasure and precious pearl.) A reading from the Holy Gospel according to St Matthew   (13:44-52) Jesus said to the crowds, “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net which was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind; when it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into vessels but threw away the bad. So it will be at the close of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous, and throw them into the furnace of fire; there men will weep and gnash their teeth. “Have you understood all this?” They said to him, “Yes.” And he said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.” This is the Gospel of the Lord I believe in God,/the Father Almighty,/ Creator of heaven and earth./ I believe in Jesus Christ,/his only Son, our Lord./ He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit/ and born of the Virgin Mary./He suffered under Pontius Pilate,/was crucified, died, and was buried./He descended to the dead./On the third day he rose again./He ascended into Heaven,/and is seated at the right hand of the Father./He will come again to judge the living and the dead./I believe in the Holy Spirit,/the Holy Catholic Church,/the communion of saints,/the forgiveness of sins,/the resurrection of the body,/and the life everlasting./ Amen. PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL Cel: Dear brothers and sisters, God has given each of us a great treasure—the treasure of our divine dignity as His children. If we find God, we find all. With filial confidence, let us pray to God our Father, the source of all wisdom, for all our needs, saying: Response: Lord, give us your wisdom. 1. For our Pope, bishops, priests and religious: that they may use their gifts and talents wisely in their ministry and thus make visible God’s loving presence in the world. Let us pray to the Lord. 2. For all Christians: that they may never exchange what is lasting and priceless for what is passing and worthless. Grant them your wisdom to understand how precious is the treasure of your Kingdom. 3. For the leaders of all nations: that they may govern with wisdom, so that people all over the world may enjoy justice and peace. 4. For all who live only for material things and wealth: that they may see the primary importance of the things of the spirit and riches of heaven. Help them to seek the things of eternal value. 5. For our Parish community: that we may not be conformed to worldly values, but seek the will of God, what is good, pleasing and acceptable to the Lord. (Pray for local and personal needs) Cel: Heavenly Father, create in us a desire for the treasures of Your Kingdom and to invest everything we have to acquire them. Put into our hearts a longing for spiritual riches and grant us the grace to live as children of the Kingdom. We ask this... PRAYER OVER THE GIFTS Lord, receive these offerings chosen from your many gifts. May these mysteries make us holy and lead us to eternal joy. Grant this… PREFACE   (P 30) Father, all-powerful and ever-living God, we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks through Jesus Christ our Lord. Out of love for sinful man, he humbled himself to be born of the Virgin. By suffering on the cross he freed us from unending death, and by rising from the dead he gave us eternal life. And so, with all the choirs of angels in heaven we proclaim your glory and join in their unending hymn of praise: All: Holy, holy, holy… COMMUNION ANTIPHON O, bless the Lord, my soul, and remember all his kindness. (Ps 102:2) PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION Lord, we receive the sacrament which celebrates the memory of the death and resurrection of Christ your Son. May this gift bring us closer to our eternal salvation. We ask this…     LITURGY AND LIFE In today’s Gospel, Jesus compares the Kingdom of heaven to a treasure hidden in a field, a merchant in search of a precious pearl and the dragnet full of all sorts of fish. Scripture scholars also consider “the householder who brings out of his treasure, new and old things” as a parable, since it speaks of “the scribe trained for the Kingdom of heaven.” The main point in all the four parables, is the preciousness of the Kingdom of heaven. The first two parables speak of the price one is ready to pay to get into the Kingdom of heaven. It is the price of one’s own self. Ancient people hid their treasure in their fields. Sometimes due to the enemy’s attack, they would flee for their life, leaving the treasure in the field. Years later a hired ploughman would find such treasure. The man in today’s Gospel is an honest man. He does not steal this treasure. He sells all his belongings and buys it. This man, in the first parable, finds the treasure accidently. He invites us to be open to the surprises that life has to offer us. The merchant, on the other hand, is in search of a precious pearl. He invites us to have an attitude of searching and seeking. Both of them express the joy of finding something precious in their life. The joy of finding the Kingdom of heaven, is so great that one is ready to forgo anything to be in this Kingdom. The third parable speaks of separating the good from the bad. The dragnet of one’s life is always full of “good and bad fish.” One needs to “sit” and discern to find out which fish is good, and “collect it in the pot” of one’s heart, and “throw away the bad ones.” Solomon was given an opportunity to choose anything, that he wanted from God. He could have chosen wealth, long life and victory over his enemies. According to Psalms 21 and 72 these three things always formed a part of the king’s desire. Coincidently, these Psalms 21 and 72 are attributed to Solomon. But Solomon did not trust in these things, he trusted in wisdom, the master co-worker beside God (Prov 8:30). The fourth parable speaks of having a right attitude towards the old and the new. One can value old things, as long as he or she does not consider them as outdated but mature and having passed the test of time. Not all the old things are outdated. They could be seasoned with experience. The Kingdom of heaven can never be outdated. The older it grows in time the more precious it becomes. Similarly not all new things are to be embraced at once. They could be fresh but lack maturity. The Kingdom of God is old and new at the same time because it is always fresh as well seasoned. After finding the eternal treasure called God, St Augustine prayed, “Late have I loved you, O beauty so ancient and so new.” During these precious moments with the Lord, let us ask ourselves: Have I experienced the joy of finding the treasure and the precious pearl? Am I ready to sell everything in order to enter into the Kingdom of heaven? Let us ask for the wisdom of God to recognize the preciousness of God’s Kingdom. —Fr Robert B. D’Souza          July  2011                    READINGS  OF  THE  WEEK                    Psalter Week 1 25 Mon (R) ST JAMES, Ap, Fst, 2 Cor 4:7-15/ Ps 125:1-2ab,2cd,-3,4-5,6/ Mt 20:20-28 26 Tue (W) St Joachim and Anne, Ex 33:7-11;34:5b-9. 28/ Ps 102:6-13/ Mt 13:36-43 27 Wed (G) Ex 34:29-35/ Ps 99:5. 6. 7. 9/ Mt 13:44-46 28 Thu (W) St Alphonsa Muttathupadath, Ex 40:16-21.34-38/ Ps 84:3.4.5-6.8a.11/                                                                                      Mt 13:47-53 29 Fri (W) St Martha, 1 Jn 4:7-16 / Ps 33:2-3.4-5.6-7.8-9.10-11 / Jn 11:19-27  or                                            Lk 10:38-42 30 Sat (W) St Peter Chrysologus, Lv 25:1. 8-17/ Ps 67:2-3. 5. 7-8/ Mt 14:1-12