July 27, 17th Sunday in OT, Cycle A

We meet King Solomon in this weekend’s first reading. Legends about him abound in Jewish lore. It was once popular to say that he was the wisest man who ever lived. The reading wants to tell us that he got that wisdom because he went to God, the source of all wisdom and asked for it. He didn’t ask for material things, but for wisdom. If we could ask God for anything (and we can) what would we ask for? (I might like a red sports car; it might push the darkness back a bit! Or, the winning Mega-Millions ticket!) Solomon asked only for wisdom. In the Gospel reading, Jesus suggests that God’s wisdom is shown in the “treasure” He finds buried in the field—and that is you and me! Imagine that! And the rest of scripture is spent telling us that God considers us precious enough to DIE rather than give us up. Awesome, no? Mull on that mystery as you wander the beach or hike in the mountains or sit by the pool this summer. I’ll bet it will make you feel as good as it makes me feel.