SEEK THE TREASURE OF DIVINE WISDOM

 Sunday, July 30, 2023


17th Sunday in Ordinary Time


First Reading. 1 Kings 3:5, 7-12

Psalm. 119: 57, 72, 76-77, 127-130 

Second Reading. Romans 8: 28-30

Gospel. Matthew 13: 44-52


TOPIC FOR REFLECTION


WHAT IS YOUR TREASURE, DIVINE OR WORLDLY?

Do you know a man lives according to his treasure?

Treasure is yearned for.

Yet, the treasure that is yearned for later controls the person who yearns for it. It controls the heart of a person.

Are you aware that treasure influences a person?

Because, those who seek divine treasure behave in a Godly humble manner, while those who seek worldly treasure are poor proud arrogant persons who placed all their trust in their worldly material wealth. 


Read the following passages...

 Proverbs. 11: 28; Psalm 49: 6, Mark 10: 24.


My dear, I want you to know that treasure is precious.


Below are some facts about treasure.

1. There are good treasures and there are bad treasures. 

2. Good treasures are divine, while bad treasures are worldly.

3. Good treasures edify both the body and soul, while bad treasures corrupt the body and destroy the soul. 

4. Good treasures leads to God, while bad treasures do not lead to God

5. People benefit from good treasure, while no one benefits from bad treasure.


The truth is that...

*** Treasure belongs to everybody and nobody.

*** Treasure yearns for nobody, yet everybody yearns for it

*** Good people yearn for divine treasure, while bad people yearn for worldly treasure.

*** Those who yearn for the divine treasure have compassionate and generous hearts, while those who yearn for worldly treasures have ulterior motives and are self-centred. 

*** Those who yearn for divine treasure seek the kingdom of heaven, while those who yearn for worldly treasures are attached to worldly materials as against the kingdom of God.


Ask yourself some sincere questions...

My dear, you know yourself,  you know if you are good or bad, you know if all you care is about others or yourself alone.


Then, I suggest you should be sincere to yourself if truly you want to become better or best.


So, what type of person are you? 

Are you generous or self-centred? 

What are your motives for searching for treasure?

More so, what type of treasure do you long for?

Good or bad? 

Divine or worldly?


In today's first reading, God asked Solomon to make a request, and Solomon is a good-hearted person who requested only one treasure, Wisdom from above, and God was pleased with him, that he was not selfish with his request 

Remember, God chose Solomon to replace his father, David; definitely, God was with him.


meanwhile, today's second reading according to the letter of St. Paul to the Romans stated categorically 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, so 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.


God called Solomon, and Solomon in turn made God proud by seeking the highest of all treasures, WISDOM from above.


My dear, Jesus in the Gospel said the kingdom of God is the treasure that must be precious to all of us. He who values divine treasure will be detached from the material wealth of this world that can not save.

However, he warns that those who yearn and value worldly treasures will be thrown into the lake of fire.


The second parable in today's Gospel depicts the message that in the end, the bad will be selected from the good. 


Below is the exact

"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, where there will be weeping and quashing of teeth.


Therefore, I am kneeling 🧎🧎🧎and begging myself and you to please, let us seek divine wisdom and not worldly wisdom. 


Divine treasure is wisdom and it will save. 

I will like to recommend two passages among many to conclude my reflection about worldly and divine treasure which is tactically linked to Wisdom which Solomon requested from God.


For divine wisdom and divine treasure, read James chapter 1.


For worldly wisdom and worldly treasure, read James chapter 4. 


Peace ✌️ be with you


Rev. Fr. Segun Oladeji, CRS.

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