Wisdom comes from grace, and enables us to direct our actions to the divine

17th Sunday in Ordinary Time, July 24, 2011
Fr. Joseph Eddy, O. de M.
Gospel: Matt. 13:44-52 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field.”

Full homily text: In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells one parable about a merchant who is searching for pearls. He could have been searching near the Red Sea at the time, which was said to contain many pearl oysters and freshwater pearl mussels. People of Israel probably had seen these pearls and were struck by their beauty. Few could afford them except the very wealthy and powerful. The pearl itself was worth so much because it was rare and of great beauty. Like today, many would want them because they are worth a great deal, and others because they are very precious like art.

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The merchant is searching for pearls and comes across one that is the “pearl of great price.” This one captivates his mind, senses, and whole being. Its beauty is beyond anything that he has come across before. The merchant “goes and sells all that he has and buys it.” He is left with nothing but a pearl. Certainly this pearl is worth a lot, but he has lost everything for it.

This parable reminds us of King Solomon, who has the opportunity of a lifetime given to him. He can ask the one true God for anything that he wants. Many of us would ask for long life or riches or a fancy car. But not Solomon, he asks for “an understanding heart to judge your people and to distinguish right from wrong.” Solomon asks for wisdom.  To him this is the “pearl of great price” because he can use it to govern the people justly, as God would.  Solomon will give up all his other desires for this gift of wisdom.

A kind of divine instinct

Many of us do not realize that we too have been give a very precious gift, a pearl of great price; the gift of wisdom. We were given this at our Confirmation. At Confirmation, through the laying on of hands and Sacred Chrism, those already baptized are strengthened by the Holy Spirit in order that they may steadfastly profess the faith and faithfully live up to their Baptismal commitment. Each of us said yes at our baptism (through parents or God-parent) to living a life of Grace. We were given the Holy Spirit to dwell within us. At Confirmation, this Holy Spirit is strengthened within us through Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit. One of these gifts is the gift of wisdom.  By this gift we are enabled to judge divine things and human things with a kind of divine instinct.  We are able to contemplate the things of God.

Many of us look at the Saints who were mystics and marvel at how they prayed or understood the ways of God. These Mystics seems so far above us, but we are given the same ability through the gift of wisdom. We are called to the very highest heights of prayer and union with God.  Not only that, but we also are given an ability to direct our human actions to the divine things. The gift of wisdom enables us to judge the things of the world by a divine instinct.

The saints spoke out for justice

As we grow in prayer and in grace we are able to tell when something in the world is opposed to God. The Saints are once again great examples of this. They stood up and stated that things were wrong in society even under difficult circumstances. We could think of Blessed Mother Teresa, who receive the Noble Peace Prize and took the opportunity to correct developed nations that promoted abortion. She saw that it was hypocrisy to seek peace in the world and not in the mother’s womb.

What a “pearl of great price” we have been given in the gift of wisdom. If we only realized what a blessing this is we would seek to grow in this gift of the Holy Spirit. We would pray that the Holy Spirit may increase its effects in our lives. We would seek to grow in the life of grace, which enables this gift to increase within our lives. The more we receive the Sacraments, especially Confession and the Eucharist, the more we grow in the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Within our reach

We, like the Merchant have come across a great treasure. The “pearl of great price” is within our reach. The gift of wisdom is ours if we live a life of grace. Selling all that we have means putting God first in our lives and making time for prayer. Then, we ourselves become “pearls” as others see in our lives the face of God. We become signs of Christ in our world. Leading others to true fulfillment that can only be found in Jesus Christ.