Homily for Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year A

The readings for Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time may be found at:

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/072626.cfm

The gospel asks us one simple question today.

What do we treasure most?

Because whatever we treasure most 

is what we're willing to sacrifice for.

For some - it's our family. 

For others - it might be our home, our career, 

financial security or personal achievements.

And there is nothing wrong with any of those things, by the way. 

They are all gifts from God.

But today, 

Jesus invites us to go deeper, asking,

What is so valuable 

that it is worth giving everything for?

In today's Gospel, 

Jesus tells us about a man 

who finds a treasure hidden in a field. 

A merchant who discovers a pearl 

unlike any he has ever seen.

When they recognize the great treasure in front of them, 

they sell what they own to get it.

Not because someone forces them to.

They do it with great joy.

They know that what they are getting 

is worth far more 

than what they are giving up.

Jesus is teaching us something very important. 

The Kingdom isn't valuable 

because it costs us everything. 

It's worth everything because of what we receive.

He's teaching us 

about discovering something so valuable 

that everything else 

becomes secondary.

The treasure is Jesus Himself, 

who invites us into the Kingdom He came to establish.

Because when we truly discover Jesus, 

our whole way of looking at life changes.

Sometimes people think being Catholic 

is mostly about giving things up,

following rules,

carrying crosses,

and yes, being Catholic does involve sacrifice.

Jesus never promised life would be easy.

But sacrifice itself is never the goal.

Jesus Himself is the treasure, 

and through Him we enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

Think about a bride and groom 

standing before God on their wedding day.

They aren't thinking about what they're giving up.

They're thinking about the life they're beginning together.

Love changes the way we look at sacrifice.

The same is true with Jesus.

He doesn't ask us to let go of things 

just to make life harder.

He asks us to let go of whatever keeps us from Him 

because He wants to give us 

something infinitely greater.

That's why the saints lived with such joy.

They discovered that nothing 

compared to knowing Christ.

So, the question for us today is -

What do we treasure most?

Because whatever we treasure most 

shapes the way we live.

If Christ is really our treasure, 

everything begins to change.

Prayer becomes a conversation instead of an obligation.

Talking to Him in the car, while walking the dog, 

or before making a difficult decision.

Mass becomes the place we want to be.

We seek His mercy in Confession.

We hunger to receive Him in the Eucharist.

Loving and forgiving others becomes possible.

Serving others becomes a privilege.

Everything begins to change 

because our hearts have changed.

But if prayer feels like a burden,

if Mass feels like just another item on the checklist,

if we only follow Jesus when it's convenient,

maybe the problem isn't that Jesus asks too much.

Maybe the problem is 

that we've forgotten the value of the treasure.

The beautiful thing is that Jesus’ love for us is relentless.

Every day He asks us to trust Him a little more,

to love Him a little more,

and to place Him a little closer to the center of our lives.

To remind us to live each day with eternity in mind.

To help us choose what lasts over what passes away.

To choose Him over everything else.

In just a few moments, 

the treasure will be here on this altar.

The Pearl of Great Price will no longer be hidden.

In the Holy Eucharist, 

Jesus doesn't simply teach us about the Kingdom.

He gives us the Kingdom's King.

He gives us the greatest treasure - Himself.

Now He invites us to place Him first, 

not because He wants to take something from us, 

but because He wants to give us everything.

May we have the wisdom 

to recognize the treasure before us.

May we receive Him today 

with joyful hearts.

May we leave here knowing 

that there is nothing in this world 

more valuable than Him.

And may He give us the strength 

to live lives 

centered on Him 

and what He wants for us.

When Jesus becomes our treasure, 

everything else finally finds its proper place.

May we recognize Him.

May we receive Him with joy.

And may we leave this church today 

willing to give Him our whole heart, 

because nothing we surrender to Christ 

can ever compare 

with everything He gives 

to us.