Homily 30.07.2023/ Sunday of the 17th Week of Ordinary Time

First Reading Reading from the First Book of Kings (3:5, 7-12): In those days, the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream and said, "Ask me whatever you wish." Solomon replied, "O Lord, my God, you have appointed your servant to succeed my father David as king, though I am a child and do not know how to act. Your servant is among your people, a vast people, countless, innumerable. Give your servant a gentle heart to govern your people, to discern evil from good, for who would be capable of governing this great people?" The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this, and God said to him: "Because you have asked for this, and have not asked for long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for discernment to hear and to govern, I will grant your request: I will give you a wise and understanding heart, such as has not been before you or will be after you." Word of God Psalm Ps 119:57, 72, 76-77, 127-128, 129-130 R/. How I love your will, Lord! The Lord is my portion; I have resolved to keep your words. I value the precepts of your mouth more than thousands of pieces of gold and silver. R/. Let your goodness comfort me, according to the promise made to your servant. When your compassion reaches me, I will live, and my delights will be in your pleasure. R/. I love your precepts more than pure gold; therefore I cherish your decrees, and I hate the way of lies. R/. Your precepts are wonderful, therefore my soul keeps them; the unfolding of your words gives light, giving understanding to the unwise. R/. Second Reading Reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans (8:28-30): We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, for those he has called according to his purpose. Those he chose, he predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. Those he predestined, he called; those he called, he justified; those he justified, he glorified. Word of God Gospel A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew (13:44-52): Jesus said to the crowds: “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. Someone who finds it hides it and in his joy goes and sells all he has and buys that field. The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, who, finding a pearl of great value, goes and sells all he has and buys it. The kingdom of heaven is like a net that is cast into the sea and gathers fish of every kind. When it is full, they drag it ashore and sit down and gather the good into baskets, but they throw the bad away. So it will be at the end of the age: the angels will come out and separate the bad from the good and throw them into the fiery furnace. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Do you understand all this?” They answered him, “Yes.” He said to them, "You see, every scribe who understands the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of the treasury what is new and what is old." The Word of the Lord