TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR A 2026, BY FR. MARTIN EKE, MSP

Ezekiel 33:7-9; Psalm 95:1-2, 6-9; Romans 13:13:8-10; Matthew 18:15-20

 

The people of Israel’s disloyalty to God resulted in their conquest and captivity by Babylon. While in exile in Babylon, God did not abandon them. God called one of them, Ezekiel, to prophesy to them. In the first reading, God spoke to Ezekiel, “I have appointed you a watchman for the house of Israel…”

 

In the same way, God has appointed each one of us to watch over one another and to be one another’s keeper. Priests are appointed to watch over the faithful and the faithful are to watch over their priests. Family members are appointed to watch over one another. Neighbors are appointed to watch over one another. Church members, coworkers, business partners, colleagues, and so on are appointed to watch over one another. We are not appointed to fight and destroy one another. Rulers and leaders are appointed to watch over the citizens; not neglect them, or mistreat them, or abandon them, or steal what belongs to them, or kill them. No one should be like Cain who murdered his brother and questioned God, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” (Genesis 4:9).

 

God called Ezekiel to speak truth to his people to save them. In the same way, God calls us to speak truth to one another to save one another. God says in the first reading, “If you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I shall require from your hand. But if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity, but you will have saved your life.” St. James writes, “Remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover a multitude of sins” (James 5:20). Therefore, God has not called us to rumor, or to gossip, or to slander, or to be silent in the face of evil.

 

Dietrich Bonhoeffer says, “Silence in the face of evil is evil: God will not hold us guiltless.” Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a German Lutheran pastor and theologian who was executed for his role in the political resistance against Adolf Hitler. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. stated that remaining silent in the face of wrongdoing makes a person cooperative with evil and that the inaction of good people is a greater tragedy than the acts of bad people. He was equally executed.

 

While we are challenged to speak truth to one another, we are also challenged to accept the truth we hear and not harden our hearts or shoot the messenger. Some people are like the guilty Hebrew man who attacked Moses for correcting him, “Who made you a ruler and judge over us?” (Exodus 2:14).

 

Watching over one another and speaking truth to one another are acts of love. That is why St. Paul writes in the second reading, “Owe no one anything, except to love one another… hence, love is the fulfilment of the law” (Romans 13:8-10). St. Jerome recorded that St. John the Evangelist lived to about 100 years old. He became so frail and weak that he could no longer walk and had to be carried by his disciples into the gatherings of believers in Ephesus. Because he lacked the strength for long or complex preaching, he would simply address the church with the same words every week: “Little children, love one another.” Growing weary of hearing the exact same phrase week after week, the disciples finally asked him, “Master, why do you always say this?” St. John replied, “Because it is the Lord's command, and if this only is done, it is enough.”

 

In today’s gospel, Jesus presents to us a difficult and a radical act of love, which is to make humbling personal extra efforts to seek reconciliation. St. Paul refers to this spiritual maturity as “becoming a fool for Christ” (1 Corinthian 4:10). It takes prayer and God’s graces of humility, courage, and perseverance to follow the four steps of seeking reconciliation which Jesus commands: Step one: Don’t presume, don’t rumor, don’t gossip, don’t grudge, don’t malign, don’t slander, don’t conclude. Initiate a private meeting for reconciliation. If the private meeting fails, don’t give up, proceed to step two: Make a second attempt with one or two mediators. If the second attempt fails, still don’t give up, proceed to step three: Bring the matter to the leadership or the community. After these three steps and the person still refuses reconciliation, then step four: “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44). This means that we do not fight or retaliate against someone who remains unreconciled. We are to pray for the person and treat the person with empathy.

 

Jesus continues in today’s gospel, “Amen, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again, amen, I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything for which they are to pray, it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:18-20).

 

Prophet Amos asks, “Do two journey together unless they have agreed?” (Amos 3:3). The answer is, “No.” Therefore, let us be in agreement and journey together and watch over one another. Then, there will be the positive energy of doing things together, praying together, and binding and loosing in Jesus’ name, and we will experience his presence in our midst. The psalmist exclaims, “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! … For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore” (Psalm 133:1-3).

 

TWENTY-SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR A 2026 BY FR. MARTIN EKE, MSP

Jeremiah 20:7-9; Psalm 63:2-9; Romans 12:1-2; Matthew 16:21-27

 

We are all carrying various kinds and sizes of crosses. That is why Jesus invites us in today’s gospel, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me” (Matthew 16:24). “Deny oneself” means to surrender one’s personal plans to God and put God first. Our crosses are our afflictions, difficulties, trials, temptations, responsibilities, love of God and love of neighbor, and our faith journey.

 

In the first reading, Prophet Jeremiah’s cross was his responsibility to prophesy to his people, their rejection of him, and the persecution he suffered in their hands.

 

When God called Jeremiah, he said to him, “To whomever I send you, you shall go; whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you … See, I place my words in your mouth! Today, I appoint you over nations and over kingdoms, to uproot and to tear down, to destroy and to demolish, to build and to plant” (Jeremiah 1:7-10).

 

The first reading was a time Jeremiah felt that God had not fulfilled his promises to him, “to uproot and to tear down, to destroy and to demolish.” Rather, he continued to see “terror on every side” and hear “denounce him, denounce him” (Jeremiah 20:10). In his frustration, Jeremiah accused God of duping him (deceiving him). He wanted to stop prophesying. “I say to myself, I will not mention him, I will speak in his name no more. But then it becomes like fire burning in my heart, imprisoned in my bones; I grow weary holding it in, I cannot endure it.” Despite how he felt, Jeremiah did not give up. He continued to prophesy. The prophesy of Jeremiah does end with chapter 20 of the first reading, it ends with chapter 52. Jeremiah teaches us to continue the work of God even when the work is not recognized, and when there is no apparent good result, and when one is not appreciated, and when one is persecuted for no just reason. That is the way to carry our crosses and follow Jesus.

 

St. Paul encourages us in the second reading not to embrace the standard of “If you can’t beat them, join them.” St. Paul encourages us, “Do not conform yourselves to this present age…” We are to remain steadfast to the will of God, to what is good and to what is pleasing to God. Not what is pleasing “to this present age.” That is the way to carry our crosses and follow Jesus.

 

In the gospel, Jesus speaks about his own cross, that he “must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly from the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed …” Peter wanted Jesus to refuse his cross. “God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you.” Peter was an obstacle to the will of God, to what is good and to what is pleasing to God. Therefore, Jesus rebuked him, “Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me.”

 

The encounter between Jesus and Peter reveals to us the pressure we go through in times of our crosses. Jesus teaches us not to refuse or abandon our crosses. He says, “Whoever does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me” (Matthew 10:38). We need to be watchful of the pressures that come from our close ones. Peter was very close to Jesus. The most difficult trials and temptations are not from enemies. They are from close ones. Many times, we compromise/conform ourselves due to pressures from close ones against what is good, what is God’s will, and what is pleasing to him. We pray for the grace to resist such pressures.

 

Let us conclude with this story:

 

God, according to his divine plan, gave a man a tall cross to carry and told him, “While on your journey, pray for anything, and I will give you.”  The man set off on his journey. After a few miles, he cried to God, “Lord, my cross is too heavy, please, cut it down a little.” God threw a handsaw to him to cut the cross to the size he wanted. He was delighted and continued his journey. After a few more miles, he cried to God again, “Lord, please cut it down a little more, I will be able to carry it better.” God threw a handsaw to him to cut the cross a little more according to his wish. He was glad. After a few more miles, he got to a gully. The easiest way he would have crossed over the gully would have been to place the cross across the gully to become a bridge. Sadly, the cross was, now, too short to go across the gully.

 

May our crosses become our bridges across the gullies in our life journeys. Amen.

 

The story of Jesus’s cross ends with his resurrection. May the stories of our crosses end with testimonies of victory. Amen. However, we know that there are incomprehensible lifelong crosses. In such conditions, we pray for enduring grace while trusting in God in whose will is our strength and peace. To God be the glory, even in incomprehensible lifelong crosses. Amen.

 

TWENTY-FIRST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR A, 2026 BY FR MARTIN EKE, MSP

 Isaiah 22:19-23; Psalm 138:1-3, 6, 8; Roman 11:33-36; Matthew 6:16:13-20

 In the first reading, Shebna, the chief steward of King Hezekiah, was a wicked, deceitful, and proud man. It was said that he conspired with Assyria in an attack against Jerusalem. God sent Isaiah to prophesy his removal from office and to be replaced by Eliakim, a faithful and trustworthy servant of God. Isaiah prophesied God’s blessings on Eliakim. He would take over the authority Shebna used to have. “He shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the house of Judah. I will place the key of the house of David on his shoulder; when he opens, no one shall shut; when he shuts, no one shall open. I will fix him like a peg in a sure spot …” The first reading reminds us Mary’s magnificat, “He has shown might with his arm, dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart. He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones but lifted up the lowly” (Luke 1:51-52).

 

The prophesy about Eliakim was a prophesy about Jesus, “the Christ, the Son of the living God” as Peter professed in today’s gospel. God replaced Shebna (the Pharisees, the Sadducees, the lawyers, the scribes, the chief priests, and the old laws) with Jesus the Christ (the new Eliakim), and gave him the authority above all authorities. Jesus, then, passed the authority to Peter and the Catholic Church, “You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

 

Today’s gospel helps us to understand the origin of the Catholic Church and the papacy. Jesus is the founder, and St. Peter is the first pope. It is only the Catholic Church that has Jesus as her founder. Every other Church traces its founder to a human being. The declaration and prophecy of Jesus in today’s gospel have kept the Catholic Church going for more than two thousand years of her existence, and the gates of hell have not been able to prevail over her. From her very beginning, as early as the time of the apostles to our generation, the Church has gone through strong wind and storm, earthquake and fire; yet the Church has continued to survive. Jesus’ declaration and prophecy concerning the Church stand forever; which is to say, no matter what happens, the Catholic Church will remain till the end of time.

 

In many countries and in many places, there are rulers and leaders, like Shebna, who are wicked, deceitful, proud, and corrupt, and who conspire against their own people. We pray for the fulfillment of Mary’s words on such rulers and leaders.

 

Like Shebna, the Pharisees, the Sadducees, the lawyers, the scribes, the chief priests were equally unfaithful wicked, deceitful, and proud stewards. Jesus challenged them, “they tie up heavy burdens hard to carry and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they will not lift a finger to move them” (Matthew 23:4). I need to ask myself what kind of steward I am. Am I an unfaithful servant like Shebna or am I a faithful and trustworthy servant of God like Eliakim?

 

TWENTIETH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR A, 2026 BY FR. MARTIN EKE, MSP

 Isaiah 56:1, 6-7; Psalm 67:2-8; Romans 11:13-15, 29-32; Matthew 15:21-28

 

The first reading took place when the Israelites returned from the Babylonian captivity and rebuilt the temple of Jerusalem. Through Prophet Isaiah, God commanded the Israelites, “Foreigners who join themselves to the Lord, ministering to him, loving the name of the Lord, and becoming his servants; all who keep the Sabbath free from profanation; and hold fast to my covenant; them I will bring to my holy mountain and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be acceptable on my altar, for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.” By this command, God communicated to the Israelites the universality of salvation and his rejection of the discrimination against the Gentiles.

 

In the second reading, St. Paul, although a Jew, was an apostle to the Gentiles. He states that God’s call to reconciliation and his mercy are for all; Jews and Gentiles. He writes in Galatians 3:28, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free person, there is not male and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Salvation is not a prerogative of any special group of people, but for all peoples.

 

In the gospel, the Canaanite woman did not mind the enmity between the Canaanites and the Jews or the disparagement of the Canaanites by the Jews. She made her way to see Jesus to present her case. Her daughter was tormented by a demon. Although Jesus tested the faith of the woman, more importantly, he wanted the encounter to be a teaching moment for his disciples and the Jews. Jesus did not say a word when the woman prayed to him. The disciples reacted, “Send her away, for she is calling after us.” Jesus responded, “I was sent only for the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” (Jesus reechoed the Jewish belief that the Messiah was going to come to save only the Jews.) “It is not right to take the food for children and throw it to the dogs.” (Jews used the term “dogs” as a slang for Gentiles to signify ritual impurity or a separation from God’s covenant.)

 

Jesus’ response did not discourage the woman. She persisted in her pleading, “Please Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their master.” Jesus was amazed and exclaimed, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And the woman’s daughter was healed from that hour. By attending to the woman, Jesus cancelled the erroneous Jewish belief that the Gentiles were outsiders who were separated from salvation and God’s covenant. By attending to the woman, Jesus implied that the derogatory remark against the Gentiles was nullified and withdrawn.

 

The Canaanite woman has a few lessons to teach us. First is her unwavering faith in Jesus, although she was a non-Jew. She believed that Jesus would heal her daughter. Nothing could discourage her. Second, she persisted in her prayer. She did not stop until her prayer was granted. Third, she was not deterred by what people thought of her or said about her. She remained focused on her goal. Fourth, she displayed great humility.

 

Today’s gospel maintains the theme of the first and second readings, that God is the creator and father of all, and that Jesus came to save everyone. Jesus came to break down dividing walls of enmity between races and destroy hostility of separation (Ephesians 2:14).

 

The disciples said to Jesus, “Send her away, for she is calling out after us.” We hear this same kind of hate speech against fellow human beings: “Send them away, they don’t look like us.” “Send them away. They don’t speak like us.” “Send them away. Their religion is different.” “Send them away. They are taking our jobs.” “Send them away. They don’t belong to our party.” “Send they away. They will overtake us.” “Send them away. They don’t reason like us.” “Send them away. They don’t agree with us.” “Send them away. They don’t support us.” “Send them away …”

 

Is there someone calling after us for help whom we have neglected or dismissed? Is there someone we disrespect or disdain because he or she is different, or because he or she is not one of our own? Is there someone we want to be sent away or be displaced because we are envious or jealous, or we just do not like the person?

 

We pray for a change of heart of perpetrators of the evils of discrimination of others, rejection of others, killing of others, destruction of property, sponsors and implementers of injustice, and enablers of conflicts, violence, and wars. Jesus prays for us and the world that we may be one (John 17:21); one in our homes, in our church, in our communities, in our society, in our country, and in our world.

 

We pray with Pope Leo: “… give us the courage to build bridges where the world raises up boundaries. In this time afflicted by conflict and division, intercede for us so that we may become peacemakers: unarmed and disarming witnesses of the peace that comes from Christ. Amen.” (Jubilee Year Prayer of Pope Leo VIX)

 

NINETEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR A, 2026 BY FR MARTIN EKE, MSP

 1 Kings 19:9a, 11-13a; Psalm 85:9-14; Romans 9:1-5; Matthew 14:22-33

 

In the first reading, Elijah escaped from Jezebel who wanted to kill him. It took Elijah forty days and forty nights to reach Mount Horeb, the Mountain of God. (Mount Horeb is called the Mountain of God because it was the site of profound divine encounters by Moses with God. On this mountain, Moses experienced the Burning Bush and received the Ten Commandments). Elijah went into a cave and took shelter. God did not say, “Welcome, my good and faithful servant;” rather, God put Elijah to further test. God said to him, “Come and stand on the mountain before the Lord, the Lord will be passing by.” (It sounds like God said, “You are on my mountain. Come out of your fear, dejection, and hiding, and experience me as Moses did. You can’t experience me hiding in a cave!”). When Elijah stood on the mountain, a strong and heavy wind came rending the mountain and crushing rocks. This was followed by an earthquake, and the earthquake followed by a fire. Elijah remained where God told him to stand. It was after the fire that God’s presence descended in a tiny whispering sound. Then, God sent Elijah to another phase of mission (1 Kings 19:14-18).

 

The following points are worth noting:

 

First, when things were going rough for Elijah, he went looking for God. He made the rough and long journey to the Mountain of God. In difficult times, we are to go to God, not go away from God.

 

Second, God called Elijah out of the cave means that God called Elijah and calls us out from hiding, withdrawal, despair, self-pity, and fear to strength and purpose.

 

Third, God was not in the strong and heavy wind, the earthquake, and the fire but in a tiny whispering sound means that many times, God is found beyond noise and beyond loud dramas.

 

Fourth, Elijah was not reluctant to continue another mission God sent him, not minding his disappointments and frustrations. Despite our disappointments and frustrations, if it is God’s will that we are to start a new journey or mission, all we have to do is to pray for the grace that we need.

 

In the second reading, St. Paul expressed his frustration, “… I have great sorrow and constant anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people, my kindred according to the flesh” (Romans 9:2-3). St. Paul was willing to sacrifice anything, even his own salvation, if such would bring salvation to his people. Elijah voiced similar frustration while on his way to Mount Horeb and prayed for death: “Enough, Lord! Take my life, for I am no better than my ancestors” (1 Kings 19:4).

 

In one way or another, we all go through strong and heavy winds, earthquakes, fires, and heartbreaking frustrations, as Elijah and Paul did. These great fathers of faith teach us to persevere during troubled times and to have unwavering faith in God. They teach us not to despair and give up but to press forward. They teach us to make a fresh start if that is the way to go.

 

Today’s gospel is about Jesus walking on water. There is a joke that the following day after Jesus walked on water, his disciples boasted to the disciples of the Pharisees that their master, Jesus, was the greatest of all masters because he walked on water. The disciples of the Pharisees told the Pharisees the latest miracle Jesus performed. The Pharisees, scornfully, replied that there was nothing special about Jesus walking on water; that Jesus walked on water because he did not know how to swim! Many of us are guilty of never acknowledging anything good in people we do not like.

 

In the gospel, Jesus left his disciples and went up on the mountain by himself to pray. It was night. The disciples’ boat was being tossed by the waves, for the wind was against it. They were miles away from offshore. In their fear, they did not recognize Jesus. They thought he was a ghost and became more terrified. Many of us can relate to the disciples’ experience. Some of us are so frightened by issues in our lives that we see ghosts instead of feeling the presence of Jesus. Some of us feel like being tossed up and down by waves of life. For some of us, things are as dark as if it is night. For some of us, the shore is not in sight. Jesus says to us as he said to the disciples, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.”  

 

At Peter’s request and Jesus’ invitation, Peter walked on water. But quickly, Peter doubted and looked away from Jesus. Peter turned his attention to the strong wind. He became frightened and began to sink. During strong winds of trials and temptations, we are encouraged to look upon Jesus and to call upon him, instead of seeking solutions outside Jesus. Away from Jesus, we sink and drown. As we remain steadfast in times of strong winds, earthquakes, fires, and tossed by waves, may we hear God’s reassuring “tiny whispering sound.”  May Jesus bring calm to our troubled situations and save us. Amen.

 

EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR A, 2026 BY FR. MARTIN EKE, MSP

 Isaiah 55:1-3; Psalm 145:8-9,15-18; Romans 8:35, 37-39; Matthew 14:13-21

 

The first reading is God’s message of consolation to the Jewish exiles in Babylon. At that time, the exiles were in despair and desolation. Many of them no longer trusted that God was going to take care of them. Through Prophet Isaiah, God called upon them: “All you who are thirsty, come to the water! You who have no money, come, receive grain and eat; come without paying and without cost, drink wine and milk! Why spend your money for what is not bread; your wages for what does not satisfy? … Come to me heedfully, listen, that you may have life. I will renew with you everlasting covenant, the benefits assured to David.”

 

This message is very relevant to us during these difficult and trying times. In one way or another, we are all hungry, thirsty, and sick. God, the origin and source of life, invites us, “Come to me heedfully, listen, that you may have life.” The Collect prayer of last Sunday’s Mass reminds us that without God nothing is holy and nothing has firm foundation. Why, then, spend our money for what is not “bread” and wages for “what does not satisfy”? That is, why, then, seek satisfaction and solutions in worldly and ungodly things?

 

In the gospel, Jesus withdrew himself to a deserted place to mourn the death of his cousin, John the Baptist. The vast crowd discovered where he went and followed him. Jesus was moved with pity and cured the sick among them, and miraculously fed the hungry crowd with five loaves and two fish. Although Jesus was grieving, he did not turn the people away. Someone called Jesus “The Wounded Healer.” John 6:37 says, “All that the Father gives to me come to me, and whoever comes to me, I shall not turn away.”

 

We pray that difficult and trying times do not weaken our faith or make us lose our faith in God. St. Paul encourages us in the second reading that anguish, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, or sword must not separate us from the love of Christ. St. Paul adds, “No, in all these things we conquer overwhelmingly through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” No matter what comes our way, “we conquer overwhelmingly” if we are close to God through Jesus Christ.

 

Hebrews 13:6 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” His saving grace and miraculous deeds remain abundant in our time. Let us, therefore, accept God’s invitation in our moments of exile, desert, thirst and hunger, sickness, heavy burden, despair, and desolation. These are not the moments to seek solutions and satisfaction outside God (“spend your money for what is not bread; your wages for what does not satisfy”).

 

In the gospel, when it was evening, the disciples said to Jesus, ‘“This is a deserted place and it is already late; dismiss the crowds so that they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves.’ Jesus said to them, ‘There is no need for them to go away; give them some food yourselves.’” Jesus could have decided not to attend to the crowd because it was a time of a great loss for him, the murdering of his cousin, John the Baptist. Jesus could have listened to his disciples’ suggestion to dismiss the crowd so that they could “go to the villages and buy food for themselves.” But he did not.

 

By his action, Jesus taught his disciples and teaches us a few lessons: to have hearts of compassion for people in need; that our difficulties and limitations should not be excuses to neglect or dismiss those in need; to be wounded healers like him; and that God multiplies abundantly his blessings when we share the little we have with the needy. We are invited not only to share material things but also our presence, time, talent, etc., with the needy.

 

In one of his homilies, St. Basil the Great challenges those who are slow in charity: “You avoid meeting people in case you might be obliged to part with even a little of what you have. You can say only one thing: ‘I have nothing to give you. I am only a poor man.’ Indeed, you are poor and utterly destitute. Poor in love, poor in humanity, poor in faith in God…” (On Charity 3, 6).

 

A few Sundays ago, we reflected on how the widow of Zarephath shared with Elijah a handful of flour and a little jar of oil, the only food that remained for her and her son. What was the result? God multiplied the flour and the oil and “She was able to eat for a year, and Elijah and her son as well; the jar of flour did not go empty, nor the jug of oil run dry…” (1 King 17:7-16).

 

God multiplies his blessings for those who trust in him, who come to him, and who have a charitable heart.

 

SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR A, 2026 BY FR. MARTIN EKE, MSP

 1 Kings 3:5, 7-12, Psalm 119:57, 72, 76-77, 127-130; Roman 8:28-30; Matthew 13:44-52

Solomon was a young man when he became the king of Israel. In his dream, God said to him, “Ask something of me, and I will give it to you.” Solomon replied, “…I am a mere youth, not knowing at all how to act…Give your servant, therefore, an understanding heart to judge your people and to distinguish right from wrong.” God was pleased that Solomon made this request, and said to Solomon, “Because you have asked this – not for 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…  In addition, … I give you such riches and glory that among kings there will be no one like you all your days.”

 

Solomon’s encounter with God brings Jesus’ words to mind: “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides” (Matthew 6:33). Solomon’s prayer challenges us since most times our prayers are for our material needs.

 

The Book of Proverbs says, “Get wisdom, get understanding!... Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you; love her, and she will safeguard you” (Proverbs 4:5-9). Wisdom is the first of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit (Isaiah 11:3).

 

In today’s gospel, Jesus reminds us that the kingdom of heaven is so priceless that we are to “sell all that we have to buy it.” Jesus means that we must give up all worldly things which might prevent us from entering the kingdom of heaven. St. Paul describes the kingdom that awaits us, “What eye has not seen, and ear has not heard, and what has not entered the human heart, what God has prepared for those who love him, this God has revealed to us through the Spirit” (1 Corinthians 2:9). Why should I allow worldly passing things to prevent me from going to such an eternal place?

 

On the way to the kingdom are constant challenges of distinguishing right from wrong, of discerning between good and evil, and of making wise judgements and good choices. It is a journey beyond human wisdom alone. St. Paul says, “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight” (1 Corinthians 3:19). When and where God is set aside and we operate only with human wisdom, we put ourselves in danger of mistakes, errors, bad choices, sin, and destruction.

 

With God’s wisdom, we are able to put what is good into the bucket and throw away what is bad. Therefore, we are encouraged to pray for God’s wisdom to guide us at every moment. St. James advises us, “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and [the person] will be given” (James 1:5). Tobit advised his son Tobiah, “Seek counsel (wisdom) from every wise person, and do not think lightly of any useful advice” (Tobit 4:18). Sadly, some people seek counsel from unwise persons and from evil minded persons who lead them astray.

 

St. Paul states in the second reading, “Brothers and sisters: We know that all things work for the good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” This statement has three segments. (1) “… all things work for the good.”  (2) “… for those who love God.” (3) “… who are called according to his purpose.” The second and the third segments are requirements for the first segment. While we pray that all things work for our good, we are to love God by obeying his commands, trusting in him, and surrendering to him. We are to follow God’s call and purpose, not our desires and will. We are active participants for all things to work for our good.

 

There are five graces we can pray for from today’s readings:

 

1.     We pray for the grace to be guided by God’s wisdom to enable us distinguish right from wrong, to discern between good and evil, and to make wise judgements and good choices.

 

2.     We pray for the grace to love God by obeying his commands, by trusting him, and by surrendering to him in all things.

 

3.     We pray for the grace to follow God’s call and purpose, not our desires and will.

 

4.     We pray that all things, even the ugliest things which come our way, may work for our good.

 

5.     We pray that on our way to the kingdom of heaven, we will run a good race and keep the faith and earn the crown of righteousness at the end. Amen.