RENUNGAN – 26 JULAI 2026

Reflection for 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A (25^th & 26^th July 2026)
First reading: 1 Kings 3:5,7-12
Second reading: Romans 8:28-30
Gospel: Matthew 13:44-52

This weekend missal reading theme is ‘The Treasure We Have Found’.

In the 1^st reading from the 1^st  book of Kings, we learned of the humility of Solomon who was the son of King David, referred himself as a young man with unskilled leadership and requested the wisdom to discern between good and evil in governing the people when asked by God what he would like to have as a gift. This for us today is a good example of humility and admitting our spiritual poverty and in need of God’s Holy Spirit gifts and grace to work through us. Having prioritized of common good rather than for selfish focus or gain, we are doing it for the greater good and in accordance to glorifying God through our works.

In the 2^nd reading on St. Paul’s letter to the Romans, reminds us that God has planned ahead all things and His divine revelation of Jesus was so that we become transformed to follow Jesus’ examples in life and that’s the calling for each of us as Christians. Jesus did not guarantee that following Him, we will be troubled or risked free, but a profound promise of God’s providence and grace will prevail in us when we cooperate with God by responding in love and obedience.

In the Gospel reading of Matthew, the passage reflects on four parables from Matt 13:44–52, presenting the Kingdom of God as the greatest treasure a person can discover.

• The Hidden Treasure: The Kingdom is worth more than all worldly possessions, calling us to place God above everything else.
• The Fine Pearls: God’s Kingdom and love are uniquely valuable and should become our highest priority.
• The Dragnet and the Sorting: The parable reminds us of final judgment and the need to live faithfully and according to God’s will.
• The Householder’s Treasure: Christians are called to grow in faith by drawing from both the old and new treasures of God’s revelation, including Scriptures and the Church’s teachings.

The Kingdom of God is a priceless and transformative reality. We are encouraged to seek it wholeheartedly, let go of worldly attachments, live according to God’s will, deepen our faith, and reflect Christ’s love, mercy, and compassion in the world.

As we reflect today on the theme, we recalled the desires that we may have in life, be it wealth, status, happiness or recognition, even if we ever fulfilled all these wants or desires,  could we ever be satisfied? When we follow Christ and honour the Lord’s Commandments and Church teachings, we declared that only Christ could provide us the heavenly treasure of what we need to be fulfilled.

Let us pray especially this weekend, for the strength to allow God and His abounding love to lead us to seek only the treasure that will bring us closer to Him and be reconciled through repentance, then only we can worship God in spirit and in truth.

Amen.

Prepared by Cat. Fredie