Welcome Back to Banquet of the Word!
Join us every week for background on this Sunday readings.
Our mission is simple:
We want to help everyone in “pew-land” get more out of mass.
Today’s theme: “An Understanding Heart that Knows Right From Wrong.”
Where in the Bible Are We?
Our 1st reading is from the Book of Kings. God’s people were in a period of relative peace under Kings Saul, David, and Solomon.
Then the kingdom divided. Today’s OT reading is right after King David died, at the beginning of Solomon’s reign.
1 KINGS 3: 5, 7-12
(The 1st Reading is Old Testament. It always links to the Gospel.)
In a dream, God tells Solomon to ask for whatever he wants and the Lord will grant it. Solomon thanks God for his goodness, and rather than asking for riches and power, Solomon requests:
“Give your servant, therefore, an understanding heart to judge your people and to distinguish right from wrong.”
God was so pleased by this humble request and thus granted Solomon not only this desire, but also a “bonus” of wealth and riches. After our reading ends today God tells Solomon:
“In addition, I give you what you have not asked for: I give you such riches and glory that among kings there will be no one like you all your days. And if you walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and commandments, as David your father did, I will give you a long life.”
I wish I could stop here and talk non-stop about how King Solomon remained a faithful and humble king, never turning his back on God and using his gifts wisely and for the good of all. But alas that was not to be.
Don’t get me wrong, King Solomon was humble and honorable – he is a key figure of the Old Testament. But he did stray. Old Testament figures and kings are in scripture so that we might ponder our need for a perfect Savior.
Solomon is the imperfect ruler over Israel who prefigures Jesus; Jesus is the only perfect King and will come to rule over all of Israel -over all the Universe. Though imperfectly, Solomon sets an example of WISDOM. Wisdom is embodied perfectly by our Lord and Savior, who IS Himself, Wisdom.
This week, let us ask for the same request Solomon asked. Lord, give me an understanding heart to judge right from wrong, and the grace to live and love as you did.” Full reading:
The LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream at night.
God said, “Ask something of me and I will give it to you.”
Solomon answered:
“O LORD, my God, you have made me, your servant, king
to succeed my father David;
but I am a mere youth, not knowing at all how to act.
I serve you in the midst of the people whom you have chosen,
a people so vast that it cannot be numbered or counted.
Give your servant, therefore, an understanding heart
to judge your people and to distinguish right from wrong.
For who is able to govern this vast people of yours?”The LORD was pleased that Solomon made this request.
So God said to him:
“Because you have asked for this—
not for a long life for yourself,
nor for riches,
nor for the life of your enemies,
but for understanding so that you may know what is right—
I do as you requested.
I give you a heart so wise and understanding
that there has never been anyone like you up to now,
and after you there will come no one to equal you.”
Responsorial Psalm 119: Lord I Love Your Commands
(The Psalm is a “response” to what we heard in the 1st Reading)
Wow! A quick search of psalm 119 shows it is the longest chapter in the entire body of scripture! Who knew?
It is thought to have been written by King David, and some scholars suggest he used it to teach his son – Solomon – the “ABC’s” of the spiritual life.
Note the verses about loving God more than riches, which later in life Solomon – who surrounded himself with more women and riches than one could ever dream – did not do. Fitting indeed.
I have said, O LORD, that my part
is to keep your words.
The law of your mouth is to me more precious
than thousands of gold and silver pieces.For I love your command
more than gold, however fine.
For in all your precepts I go forward;
every false way I hate.
Romans 8: 28-30
(The 2nd reading is usually from Paul’s letters. Speaks to how the early church was built after Christ’s death and resurrection).
Paul’s letter to the Romans is centered in salvation and justification through faith in Christ. Chapter 8 is one of the most jam-packed chapters.
Paul continues to tell the Romans that the way to Unity in Christ (the theme of all his letters) – is Unity in Christ’s Church on Earth – and we are all justified to belong.
We are all called to His purpose. All called to His family. All destined for Glory in His everlasting Kingdom: Heaven.
We know that all things work for good for those who love God,
who are called according to his purpose.
For those he foreknew he also predestined
to be conformed to the image of his Son,
so that he might be the firstborn
among many brothers and sisters.
And those he predestined he also called;
and those he called he also justified;
and those he justified he also glorified.
MT 13:44-52
(The Gospel is the highest point of the Liturgy of the Word. That’s why we stand.
We are about to hear from and be instructed by Christ Himself.)
For the 3rd week in a row, we’re back to Jesus’s parables. This week’s imagery? The Kingdom of Heaven is like…
- A treasure in a field
- A merchant searching for fine pearls
- A net thrown into the sea
This week I think of the mystery of scripture. How can it be so complicated and deep and yet so unbelievably simple as today’s gospel is?
Jesus uses everyday images to speak the simplest of messages. He talks to us in our every day vernacular so that His love and His promise of Heaven are plain and easy to understand – with the understanding heart we hope to receive with His grace.
Yet His word can be complicated at the same time; let’s face it, the bible is intimidating and hard.
Or is it?
At the end of the age, Jesus says we will either be with Him in Heaven as the wheat gathered into His barn, or we will find ourselves void of God’s presence and love forever.
Let us ponder today’s simple message and ask God for the grace to understand His ways and the path to Heaven. Let us follow Solomon’s example and ask for “an understanding heart.”
Jesus said to his disciples:
“The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field,
which a person finds and hides again,
and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant
searching for fine pearls.
When he finds a pearl of great price,
he goes and sells all that he has and buys it.
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net thrown into the sea,
which collects fish of every kind.
When it is full they haul it ashore
and sit down to put what is good into buckets.
What is bad they throw away.
Thus it will be at the end of the age.
The angels will go out and separate the wicked from the righteous
and throw them into the fiery furnace,
where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.“Do you understand all these things?”
They answered, “Yes.”
And he replied,
“Then every scribe who has been instructed in the kingdom of heaven
is like the head of a household
who brings from his storeroom both the new and the old.”
Banquet of the Word 