Decimoséptimo Domingo del Tiempo Ordinario – Año A (2026)

Mis queridos hermanos y hermanas, imaginen que Dios se les apareciera hoy y les dijera: «Pídanme lo que quieran, y yo se los concederé». ¿Qué pedirían?

Algunos pedirían buena salud, otros paz en la familia, seguridad económica o éxito en la vida. Nuestras respuestas serían diferentes porque cada uno de nosotros tiene necesidades y esperanzas distintas.

En la Primera Lectura de hoy, Dios le da esa oportunidad al joven rey Salomón. En lugar de pedir riquezas, poder o una larga vida, Salomón pide sabiduría: un corazón comprensivo para distinguir entre el bien y el mal y para guiar bien al pueblo de Dios. Como su petición agradó al Señor, Dios le concedió una sabiduría sin medida.

La oración de Salomón nos invita a reflexionar sobre la nuestra. ¿Qué solemos pedirle a Dios? ¿Pedimos solo bendiciones materiales, o también pedimos sabiduría: la sabiduría para tomar buenas decisiones, conocer la voluntad de Dios y vivir de acuerdo con ella?

En el Evangelio, Jesús nos dice que el Reino de los Cielos es como un tesoro escondido y una perla de gran valor. Quienes los encontraron renunciaron con alegría a todo lo demás porque reconocieron su verdadero valor.

Jesús nos recuerda que nada en este mundo es más precioso que el Reino de Dios. La riqueza, el éxito y las posesiones son temporales, pero nuestra relación con Dios dura para siempre. La pregunta es: ¿Cuál es el mayor tesoro de nuestra vida? ¿Es Cristo, o han ocupado otras cosas el primer lugar?

En la Segunda Lectura, san Pablo nos anima con estas hermosas palabras: «Sabemos que Dios dispone todas las cosas para el bien de quienes lo aman». Incluso en los momentos de sufrimiento o incertidumbre, Dios está obrando. Él puede sacar un bien de toda situación si ponemos nuestra confianza en Él.

Por eso, pidámosle al Señor la sabiduría de Salomón, la fe para confiar en su amoroso plan y el valor para buscar su Reino por encima de todo.

Que el Reino de Dios y nuestra relación con Jesucristo sean siempre el mayor tesoro de nuestras vidas.

Amén.

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Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year A

My dear brothers and sisters, imagine that God appeared to you today and said, "Ask me for whatever you want, and I will give it to you." What would you ask for?

Some would ask for good health, others for peace in the family, financial security, or success in life. Our answers would differ because each of us has different needs and hopes.

In today's First Reading, God gives that opportunity to the young King Solomon. Instead of asking for wealth, power, or a long life, Solomon asks for wisdom—an understanding heart to distinguish between good and evil and to lead God's people well. Because his request pleased the Lord, God granted him wisdom beyond measure.

Solomon's prayer invites us to reflect on our own. What do we usually ask God for? Do we ask only for material blessings, or do we also ask for wisdom—the wisdom to make good decisions, to know God's will, and to live according to it?

In the Gospel, Jesus tells us that the Kingdom of Heaven is like a hidden treasure and a pearl of great price. The people who found them gladly gave up everything else because they recognized their true value.

Jesus reminds us that nothing in this world is more precious than God's Kingdom. Wealth, success, and possessions are temporary, but our relationship with God lasts forever. The question is: What is the greatest treasure in our lives? Is it Christ, or have other things taken first place?

In the Second Reading, St. Paul encourages us with these beautiful words: "We know that all things work together for good for those who love God." Even in times of suffering or uncertainty, God is at work. He can bring good out of every situation if we place our trust in Him.

This, let us ask the Lord for the wisdom of Solomon, the faith to trust in His loving plan, and the courage to seek His Kingdom above everything else.

May the kingdom of God and our relationship with Jesus Christ, be always the greatest treasure of our lives.

Amen.

17th Sunday 2026 A

My friends, in today’s Gospel Jesus  tells 3 more parables, each beginning with:  “The Kingdom of Heaven is LIKE.”  Jesus used the word like because our human minds cannot not comprehend the exact description of Heaven.

In the first parable, it appears as though the discovery of the buried treasure is accidental because the man finds it while working in a field.  When he realizes its precious value, he sells all that he has and buys that field. 

In Palestine in the days of Jesus, it was perfectly normal to bury cherished belongings.  There were banks, but only for the wealthy.  Ordinary people used the ground as the safest place to keep their precious belongings.  There was a rabbinic saying at the time:  “There is only one safe place for money – the earth.”  This is illustrated in the parable of the talents and the worthless servant who buried his talent in the ground, lest he should lose it.  (Matt.25:25)

Now, there might be some criticism of this new found treasure in that it should belong to the person who currently owned the field and the finder had no right to it.  But, there was a Jewish Rabbinic law which was quite clear: "What is found belongs to the finder.”  So the man who found the treasure was covered in both ways – he was both the finder and the new owner of the field.   

In the second parable, the merchant is searching for a unique and precious pearl.  He was obviously an expert in recognizing valuable pearls.  When he found it, he was like the man who found  the buried treasure.  He too sold all that he had to buy that precious pearl.

The third parable about the fishing net reminds us that our loving God invites and welcomes everyone to the Kingdom of Heaven.  Just as the fishermen caught fish of every kind, God allows everyone to live a life of their own choosing.  We can’t say both the “good” and the “bad” because that is for God alone to judge.  Our part is to live a life of holiness, according to the will of God.

At the end of our Gospel, Jesus said something profound:  "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."  

Now, a Scribe was a leading interpreter and teacher of the Jewish Scriptures.  Jesus is teaching us not to throw away the old in favor of the new.  Likewise, we should not ignore the new because we like the old better.  There are some Catholics who still reject the changes in the Second Vatican Council and some who say the changes in the Second Vatican Council did not go far enough.  In today’s world, how many times do we read or hear the terms Radical Left or Radical Right ?  Similarly, Jesus is teaching us to have balance in our lives with, “both the new and the old.” 

My friends, the first two parables demonstrate how finding the Kingdom of Heaven can be accidental or deliberate.  The specific details in each parable are subservient to one main point, which is the joy of the discovery that made the men willing to sell all they owned to acquire the new found treasure.

And so it is with us.  The joy in knowing that we are in a loving relationship with God is the ultimate treasure.  A beautiful assurance is that the Kingdom of Heaven is everywhere.  Sometimes it is quite visible and sometimes it’s still waiting to be found by some.  Sometimes the Kingdom of Heaven is found in Church, sometimes outside of Church – just as Jesus is present both in the Church as well as outside the Church.  My friends, Jesus is always present and we can always talk to Him or listen to Him, whether we are working or shopping or driving or resting or whatever.

Saint and mystic, Brother Lawrence, who lived in France in the 17th century, spent much of his working life in the monastery kitchen amidst the dirty dishes.  He would say, "I feel Jesus Christ as close to me in the kitchen as ever I do at the Blessed Sacrament." 

Now, it could be argued that the Kingdom of Heaven is not very visible where there is war, violence, abuse, drought, starvation.  But, God is there in the midst of the pain and suffering.  Our part as Disciples of Christ Jesus is to do whatever we are capable of doing to promote peace and unity.  A good place to start is to recognize that everyone is a child of God and by loving one another.