Reading 1
1 Kgs 3:5, 7-12
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.”
119:57, 72, 76-77, 127-128, 129-130
Responsorial Psalm R. (97a)
Lord, I love your commands.
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.
R. Lord, I love your commands.
Let your kindness comfort me
according to your promise to your servants.
Let your compassion come to me that I may live,
for your law is my delight.
R. Lord, I love your commands.
For I love your command
more than gold, however fine.
For in all your precepts I go forward;
every false way I hate.
R. Lord, I love your commands.
Wonderful are your decrees;
therefore I observe them.
The revelation of your words sheds light,
giving understanding to the simple.
R. Lord, I love your commands.
Reading II
Rom 8:28-30
Brothers and sisters:
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.
Gospel
Mt 13:44-52 or 13:44-46
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.”
or
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.”
Meditation: Romans 8:28-30
“All things work for good for those who love God.” (Romans 8:28)
Sheila approached Anne somewhat timidly after Mass one day. “Would you pray for me?” she asked. “My heart races sometimes, and I’m afraid I’ll have a heart attack.” Anne placed her hand gently on Sheila’s shoulder and began to pray. She asked God to heal Sheila’s heart, every ventricle, artery, vein, and valve—anything she could remember from biology class. Sheila didn’t expect much to happen. But as Anne prayed, something did.
Anne’s prayer shifted from concern with the physical aspects of healing Sheila to declarations of God’s love for her. “You are the delight of his heart,” Anne heard herself telling Sheila. “You are a beloved daughter, unique and priceless, and precious in the Father’s eyes.” Her words overflowed with a compassion and kindness that she could feel—compassion and kindness that seemed to flow through her hands into Sheila’s heart. And slowly, Sheila’s face changed. Tears welled up in her eyes.
Finally, as the words subsided, Sheila whispered to Anne: “No one has ever said things like that to me before.” As she turned to walk away, a beautiful smile, and peace, lit her face. Sheila had come to Mass about her physical condition, but God used her concerns to heal something different. He healed her heart all right—the part of her that resonates with his love and life. Perhaps he healed her physical heart right then, too. Or perhaps the physical healing will occur as Sheila continues to experience more of God’s love for her. But as far as Sheila was concerned, the inner healing was worth more than anything else.
God uses everything, even the bad things, to draw us to himself. He does want to heal us physically, but even more so, he wants us to live and move and have our being in him. In the light of eternity, that’s the healing that matters the most.
“Father, fill me with your love today. I give you free rein to do whatever you want in me.”
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