July 26, 2026. 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)

Readings: 1 Kings 3:5,7-12; Romans 8:28-30; Matthew 13:44-52 

What is your buried Treasure?

1.    Several years ago, a geologist named Dr. John T. Williamson was doing some work in Tanzania. One day, he found himself driving in a deserted area, slipping and sliding along a rain-soaked road. Suddenly, his four-wheel drive vehicle sank up to its axles in the mud and got stuck. Pulling out his shovel, Dr. Williamson began the unpleasant task of digging out of a mud hole. He had been at it for a while when his shovel uncovered something strange. It was a pink-like stone of some sort. Being a geologist and naturally curious about rock formations, he picked it up and wiped away the mud. The more mud he recovered, the more excited he became, and he could hardly believe what he saw. When the stone was finally clean, Dr. Williamson was beside himself with joy. He had discovered a diamond. Now, any diamond at all would be a surprise in that situation, but Dr. Williamson found what became known as the famous pink diamond of Tanzania. That stone today sits in the royal scepter of Great Britain, and Dr. Williamson is famous around the world for his find – as accidental as it may have been.

2.    This story illustrates the point Jesus raised in today’s Gospel. He likened the kingdom of heaven to a treasure buried in a field or a pearl of great price, which a person finds and hides again, and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. These parables were perfectly natural and easily understood by the people of Palestine in the days of Jesus, and even by many people in the rural areas of the world. In those days, there were banks, but not banks for ordinary people. Ordinary people would rather use the ground as the safest place to keep their most cherished belongings. Recall the parable of the talent in Matthew 25:25. The man who received one talent buried it in the ground and later brought it out to the master when asked for it. It was common practice for people to hide their valuables in the ground before they took to flight during war, in the hope that the day would come when they could return and regain them. It was, therefore, easy for someone to stumble on a buried treasure in the field or find a pearl of great price buried in the field. A merchant would hide the pearl and sell all he had to buy it.

3.    We live in a world full of wants, needs, desires, and undue expectations. We are never satisfied with what we have, and so, we are in search of something better. We want a better house, a better car, a comfortable life, and the best for our children. Nothing seems to quench our desire for more. No matter what we own, it is never enough, so we pray for more – the more the merrier. If we do not get what we need on our own, we take it to the Lord in prayer and ask for divine intervention. In the first reading, Solomon appealed to the Lord for help. He had just succeeded his father, David, as king of Israel. To begin his reign, Solomon prayed for an understanding heart, so that he could reign well. Of all that Solomon could have asked for, he prayed for wisdom. With the wisdom that comes from God, he will lead the people according to God’s heart. God was pleased with his request, “Because you have asked for this – not for a long life for yourself, nor for riches, nor for the life of your enemies, but for understanding so that you may know what is right – I do as you requested. In addition, I give you what you have not asked for, such riches and glory that among kings there is not your like” (1 Kings 3:11-13).

 

4.    What do we pray for? It is important to pray with the right intention at the right time. Sometimes we pray for too many intentions at a time.  We seem to forget that God, our Father, knows our every need. He will provide for us whether we ask for it or not. Jesus even tells us what to ask for in prayer. “If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the holy Spirit to those who ask him?” (Lk. 11:13). He tells us how to pray: “In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” (Matt. 6:7-8). After all, “All things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” (Rom. 8:28). St. Paul reminds us that “The Spirit comes to the aid of our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes with inexpressible groaning.” Our prayer should be well thought out, and our intentions few.  Think of what to do if your prayers are answered or not. Can you handle all that you ask for? Solomon did not pray for himself but for others. The gift of wisdom bestowed on him was to help him continue his task of governance and be an effective and good leader. He was enabled to rule wisely and to establish a kingdom of love, justice, and peace. What do you do with your gifts and blessings? Do you use them for the glory of God and for the good of others?

5.    What we need in life is simple: to be happy, to be at peace with God and others, to do right, to love justice, and to walk humbly before God. Seek the revelation of the truth, the knowledge of what is good, and abhor evil in all its ramifications. Work earnestly towards your life with God in his kingdom, where you hope, one day, to behold his face. This is the hidden treasure. This is the pearl of great price. Until you find these treasures, your hearts will be empty, and your needs will never be satisfied. How do we find these treasures? You were given the tools on the day of Baptism. You were clothed with white garments, given a lighted candle as your guide, and the word of God as your shield.  It is by going about the normal business that you find the treasure; it is when you trip and fall while doing your work that you find the gold of eternal life. The treasure is found by sheer luck. The one who finds it sells all that he has to purchase the field where it is buried. Symbolically, this implies that becoming a member of the kingdom of heaven is a sheer gift of the Lord. He decides who will receive the treasure. The treasure is not given for an individual’s benefit. The recipient has to share it with others so that the kingdom can grow. It is the same with the pearl of great price. The one who finds it goes and sells all he has to buy it. The kingdom of God is not a mere substitute for something else; it is the finest possession that gives life, and it is worth selling all that one has to purchase it. It is the real possession that will give us eternal life, joy, and peace.

6.    Finally, these parables describe different ways in which people find the kingdom. By chance, by diligent search, and by careful discernment. No matter which way one finds it, what is important and necessary is the wisdom to recognize the surpassing worth of the kingdom and be part of it. May the Eucharist we celebrate, our daily prayer, our sacrifices, and our witnessing to the gospel direct us to find the hidden treasure in our world.    

 

Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP

July 19, 2026. 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)

Readings: Wisdom 12:13,16-19; Romans 8:26-27; Matthew 13:24-30

 

The Bastard Wheat

There is a parable about Good and Evil. One day, Good and Evil met upon the shore of the sea. They said to each other, “Let us disrobe and bathe in the sea.” After they bathed in the sea for some time, Evil came to the shore, clothed itself with the Good’s garment, and walked away. Later, Good too came out and found that Evil had taken away its clothes. Feeling ashamed to go naked, Good garmented itself with the Evil’s clothes. To this day, both Good and Evil walk around in their disguised clothes. Only those who know the face of Good and Evil can identify their true nature despite the garments.

 

Today’s readings demonstrate the problem of evil in the world. We know of its presence. We see it every day. We read about it, not just in history books, but witness it in our streets, at home, in church, in our neighborhood, and in the nations of the world. How do we explain the manifestation of evil all around us? A young man went into the grocery store, spat into bottles of iced tea, and laughed about it. A young woman spits on food items in another grocery store, licks butter, and scoops ice cream into her mouth. Many other atrocities abound in social media. What about the man who sets a dog’s tail on fire and delights himself as the dog writhes in pain? Or those who tell lies about their neighbors or shoot and kill human beings just for the fun of it. Or taking the lives of unborn children in the womb; setting a house on fire and watching with glee as the occupants suffocate and die; or intentionally manipulating figures to look good after mismanagement and misappropriation of funds. We sometimes feel like Bob Marley and the Wailers, who in 1973 sang, “Stop that train, I’m leaving.” No wonder the rich want to get out of the world and move to Mars. It makes us question the effectiveness of the Gospel and the labors of missionaries and religious leaders in our country and beyond. Has Christianity failed? G.K. Chesterton would say,  "No, Christianity hasn’t failed; it just has never been tried. For if enough people lived the Gospel message in its fullness, the difference would be clear.

 

The parable of the Weed and the Wheat teaches us that saints and sinners must coexist in the world. After all, they were both created by God, out of love. The weed or darnel was so indistinguishable from wheat at the early stage of its growth. It was called bastard wheat. One may uproot the wheat in an attempt to uproot the weed. The farmer must therefore wait patiently till harvest time. The wheat and the weed must be allowed to grow together till the end. According to the first reading from the book of Wisdom, “You (God) taught your people, by these deeds, that those who are just must be kind; and you gave your children good ground for hope that you would permit repentance for their sins.” No matter how bad the world may be, there is still hope for those who have faith. And so, St. Paul, in the second reading, enjoins us to ask the Spirit for assistance in prayers. We are weak; on our own, we can do nothing good. But “The Spirit comes to the aid of our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes with inexpressible groaning. And the one who searches hearts knows what the intention of the Spirit is, because he intercedes for the holy ones according to God’s will.”

 

Today’s readings teach us that there is a hostile power in the world competing with the power to do good. The power of evil always seeks to destroy the good in us. Evil can disguise and fool us like darnel weed and the wheat. They looked exactly alike in their shape and size. There was only a slight color variation. But when eaten, the darnel was poisonous. This can make us mistake evil for good. St. Paul exclaimed, “For I do not do the good I want, but I do the evil I do not want.” (Rom. 7:19). But trusting in the mercy of God, Paul overcame his weaknesses. Therefore, we must be on our guard so that evil may not overpower us. It is not always easy to distinguish those who wish us good from those who seek to destroy us. It’s not written on our faces the intentions of our hearts.

 

This is why we should be on our guard. When the servants, in the parable, asked the Master, “Did you not sow good seed in your field? Where have the weeds come from?” He answered, “An enemy had done this.” Who is your enemy, who is ready to plant bad seed in your farm? They are those who laugh with and eat with you, who you confide in, but who tell your business to the whole world. They will block your promotion and make up stories about you. They are your trusted friends who tell you how much they care for you. But they are just waiting for you to fall asleep, so that they will plant weed among your wheat. They intend to destroy you. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inside are ravenous wolves. They hate because they are jealous of your achievements, your children, and everything you are and own. They come to you as friends so that they may have easy access to your life and know just where to hit and destroy you. They are in the church, in your office, and in your neighborhood. Beware of them! Someone may appear to be good to you but is in fact the devil incarnate, and those you think are evil may indeed be good.

 

Today’s parable also teaches us that judgment belongs to God, and yet he is slow to anger but rich in mercy. Hence, the first reading says, “But though you are master of might, you judge with clemency, and with much lenience you govern us; for power, whenever you will, attends you.” At the end, evil will be overcome, because there is a seed of destruction in every demon. It has a day of reckoning and will sooner or later destroy itself. On the Day of Judgment, a day of harvest, it will be gathered and burnt. It doesn’t matter how long evil will triumph in the world; one day it will meet its end, and the children of light will shine like the stars of heaven. So, this parable warns us against judging people. It is wrong to be quick to judge and condemn people without knowing the facts about them. Do not judge someone by one single act or stage in life. People must be given the benefit of the doubt. Judgment cannot come until the end of our lives. In the end, the judgment of God will come on all sinners. Hence, swift and jungle justice are not the solution for a composite being like man. A man can have a change of mind and heart at any time. All judgments must be left in God’s domain, for if you, O Lord, should mark our guilt, Lord who can stand? May the Holy Spirit aid us as we pursue a life of holiness and justice and recognize the hidden enemies of our lives.  Amen.

 

                                    Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP

July 12, 2026. 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)

Readings: Isaiah 55:10-11; Romans 8:18-23; Matthew 13:1-23

The Power of the Word

1.     Today, Jesus tells a parable of a Sower who went out to sow his seed and the four types of soil that received the seed. The Sower is God, who created us out of love and planted the seed of faith in our hearts. “It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will endure.” (Jn. 15:16). God’s gift is bestowed on us gratuitously. It is a free gift – a blessing and grace completely unmerited. If we cooperate with God’s gift of faith, God will change and transform us. The soil stands for the different hearts that receive God’s word. Each person must accept or reject God’s offer of grace.

2.     In the first reading, Isaiah the prophet pleads with the captives in Babylon. He assured them that God would bring them out of bondage, after years in captivity, to their homeland in God’s own time. Many of them doubted. They gave in to despondency and despair, turning their backs on God. So, Isaiah compared the word of God to rain and snow that have the power to keep the world green and alive. God’s promises will come true in their time. “Write down the vision clearly upon the tablets, so that one can read it readily. For the vision still has its time, presses on to fulfillment, and will not disappoint; if it delays, wait for it, it will surely come, it will not be late.” (Habakkuk 2:2-4). God’s word came true indeed. After roughly 50 years in exile, the children of Israel were liberated by the Persians, who destroyed the Babylonian Empire and allowed them to return home. Like Isaiah compared the word of God to rain and snow, Jesus compares God’s word today to the seed planted by the Sower.

 

3.      How we react to God’s word is sometimes determined by our socio-cultural environments. At times, the situations we find ourselves in may affect our response to God’s grace. According to St Paul, in the second reading, “I consider that the sufferings of this present time are as nothing compared with the glory to be revealed for us.” Being aware of human suffering, Paul tells us to imagine the human and created world as being involved in one giant act of giving birth: “We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains.” Then he added, “We ourselves…grown inwardly while we wait for… the redemption of our bodies.” Paul believed redemption would take place in the kingdom of God on a day when all people would see themselves as adopted children of God.  The word of God will help us to achieve this goal. For “Faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ.” (Rom. 10:17). Therefore, we must be disposed and willing to put his word into practice. Hence, the story of the Sower.

4.     The parable presents four responses to the generosity of the Sower. Note that in only one case was the word rejected outright. In the other three cases, it was received with joy. The problem is not in receiving the word, but in treasuring and putting it into practice. Thus, there are different ways of accepting God’s word, and the fruit that it produces depends on the heart of the one who accepts it. The fate of any spoken word depends on the hearer. (a) The seed on the path is those who lack the moral disposition necessary for true conversion. They hear the word without understanding. They ask no questions and have no time to study what they do not understand. As soon as they received the word, they cast it by the wayside. They allow pride and prejudice to shut the word from their hearts. They are unteachable and blind to the fact that they do not know. They harden their hearts, close their eyes to the truth, and turn their backs on the word. As birds feast on seed, so does the devil feast on their weak faith and snatch the word from their fickle hearts. (b) The second seed falls on rocky ground that has little soil. Here, one may profess faith in the Lord, but such spirituality is shallow and superficial. These people are emotional and are swept off their feet as soon as they hear the word. They fail to think things out and through. They are at the mercy of every new and crazy idea. Their lives are littered with things they began and never finished. When this attitude is applied to the word of God, one faces disaster in one’s spiritual life. They mistake emotional attraction for deep faith. No one lives on emotion. We have minds, and it is a moral obligation to have an intelligent faith. Christianity has its demands, and these must be faced before it can be accepted. The Christian offer is not only a privilege but also a responsibility. A sudden enthusiasm can always so quickly become a dying fire.

 

5.     (c) The third seed fails to grow because thorns choke it to death. Here is someone who cannot let go and let God rule his life. In his order of priorities, God does not rank very high. Prestige, power, possession, and pride take precedence. This person has so many interests in life that they skewed their priorities completely. He is too busy to pray, too preoccupied with material things, with family life, work, business, and other social activities in the community. Reading the bible or finding time for spiritual things becomes a distraction. And going to Mass is an interruption or, at best, a disturbance to his Sunday schedule. He may be so involved in committees and good works of charitable services that it leaves him no time for himself or for God. He is so involved in the work of the Lord that he forgets the Lord of the work. We must be careful not to block God out of our busy lives. (d) The fourth seed sprouts and produces a rich harvest. The word of God penetrates a person’s entire being and permeates his whole existence. The yield is bountiful in love and compassion, in honesty and a simple lifestyle, and concern for the dejected and the downtrodden. This person has an open mind; he is willing to learn and prepared to listen. He is never too proud or too busy to listen and to learn. He understands the importance of taking advice and counsel from wise friends and knows the value of good spiritual reading. He translates what he hears into action and produces the good fruit of the good seed! Four seeds, one Sower. The real hearers are those who listen, who understand, and who obey. They yield a harvest through their perseverance.

6.     Today’s readings call us to action. They remind us that God’s word will bear fruit abundantly regardless of how it is received. His word has power and can help us live better lives. “Indeed, the word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart. No creature is concealed from him, but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must render an account.” (Heb. 4:12-13). Let us pray that we may “Be doers of the word and not hearers only.” Amen.

Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP