17th Sunday in Ordinary Time

One Really Valuable Pearl

Jesus likens the kingdom to a man who finds a buried treasure and sells all that he has so that he can
buy the field containing the treasure.

He likens the kingdom to a merchant who sells all that he has in order to be able to buy one really valu-
able pearl.

What is the one really valuable pearl that we are willing to sacrifice everything in order to have? What is
that buried treasure for which we would be willing to sacrifice everything?

The thing that Solomon wanted most was an understanding heart to judge your people and to distinguish right
from wrong.

Isn’t it possible that what we want most is something very selfish: possessions, security, power, pleas-
ure, comfort.

What would the world be like if, instead of these, our one really valuable pearl was something like world
peace based on justice for all? or the development of a classless society based on respect for all and
the priority of need over want? or the worship of God through prayer, service, and a preferential op-
tion for the poor?

What would the world be like? Jesus says it would be like the kingdom.
Gerald Darring

“The cross of Jesus Christ shows us the defi-

ciency of other value systems. Jesus yielded up
his life for us in perfect loving union with the
Father’s will, and this is the meaning of his life
which also gives meaning to our lives as his fol-
lowers.

If we can acknowledge selfishness as folly and

self-sacrifice as victory, if we can love enemies,
be vulnerable to injustice and, in being so, still
say that we have triumphed, then we shall have
learned to live in Christ Jesus.”
U.S. Bishops, To Live in Christ Jesus (1976) 116
July 27, 2008
Some καιρός / kairos thoughts…
καιρός / kairos—Greek—time—viewed as an occasion rather than an extent

In our deepest
selves
if we can enter
there

we may discover
a peace
and a goodness

a forgiveness
a gentleness
and a hope

Christ
Prayer List
in our deepest Pray the rosary for world peace, Avis Cox, Fr. Clarence Biggers, Gladys and Ben
selves Kramkowski, Rita Moenk, Doug Bearden, Sarah Snider, Thornton/Lynch
family, Ryan Amsberry, Annie & family, Connie, her mother & family, Blake,
we may discover Erik, Campbell family, Jonathan & family, Sharon & family, Will, FMS, Cap.
a desire Corp., Patrick & Brittany, Broughman family, Fannie Crowder & family, VAL,
Father Ingram’s father & family, Karen’s mother, Cheryl Mobley & family,
William Hudson, Robert, Walter, Danielle, Christopher, Barbara, Katherine,
a most inner Nicholas, Kaylin, Kasie, Mary Beth & family, Mary Ann Mahoney & family,
Donna & family, Ann Chancellor & family, Sheila & family, cancer patients &
desire families, military & families, Brandon, Plantation Villa residents, Don, Mrs.
that what we want Carpenter, Mr. & Mrs. Rooks, Katherine & family, Mr. Dunn, Mr. & Mrs.
is Barlow, Jane & family, Scott & family, Diane & Peter, Michele & Gary, Lucy’s
father & family, Bobbie, Joan & family, Karl’s mother & family, June & family,
to do God's will Tina & family, Belinda & family, OLM family, Kat, Delgratia & family, Mr.
Gomez & family, Sara’s mother, Dr. Lynch & family, Rob/Allie & family, Chuck
& family, Frank & family, Liesa & family, mother of Dr. Petros, Dr. Issa &
and that this desire family, Odessa, Anita’s mother & family, Ruby, Ruby’s mother & family, Davies
is all family, Katie & family, family of Angie, Ann & family, Gretchen & family,
Eileen, Scott & family, Robert, Flavia & family, Tony’s family, Roy & Martha
we can really Wright, Roy, Alice Swygert, Alan, Nard, Tony, Glenda, Nelson, J. Bob, Munn,
know Vogt, Wolfe families, Russell & family, Ola, Gene Wilson & family, Jane Brock
or be sure of & family, Janet Kramer & family, Elayne & family, Winnie, Phil & family, Tony,
Stan, Emily & family, Ruthie & Ed, Mr. Bergin & family, Russell & family, Mrs.
about Sanseverino & family, CC Center, veterans & families Jessie Emmett, Mark,
our selves Michael’s mother, Carrie, VAMC, Rambo’s mother & family, Josephine Mary,
Mary Anna, S. Paul, Tony, J. W. Wilson & family, Jason & Kim, Josie, Kelly,
Mickey’s family, Jon & Janet Cook & family, Karen’s cousin, Mike Aguado &
yet it is enough family, Carl & family, Dr. Lopez & family, Dr. Vanapalli & family, Dr. Nair &
it is a grace family, Garrett & family, family of Duffie, Aaron Christian, Marina & family,
Mitchell’s father & family, Estella’s mother & family, Kerry’s mother & family,
Gail & family, Beth & family, Bernard, Anna & family, Sara Lucas & family,
anda Poem from liturgy.slu.edu Mary Gilliam & family, friends & familiy of Pat, friends & family of Kathy,
Karen, Jackie & family, Bettie & family, Carol & family, Gary & Sharon Creed,
Barbara Carl, James & Phyllis Wham, Dan Kessler, Mr. & Mrs. Wayne Fry,
Today’s parables highlight the kingdom of David Hempen, Steve Kirkland, Michael Cofer, Buddy Brasher, Lana Adams-
Tidwell, Kathy McGhee, Tim Cherry, Michael & family, Berger family, Mendez
heaven as the only thing worth possessing family, Ikai family, Joshua Moser, Stephanie Christian, Carolyn Williamson,
Patricia Finch, Kathy Weaver, Heidi FitzGerald, Ed Schaffer, Lynn Smith, Russ
and open for us the choice to take it or not. family, Willie Ryans, Justine McGuire, Chris B., Joyce Jones, Fran Howarth,
Carlo Dellaquila, Katherine Catti, Stephanie & Mark Fletcher, Michael & Joanna
It is open to everyone, and we must follow Spataro, Anna & Henry, Heidi, Elaine Cole, Elysa Cole-Ali, Eric Hawthorne,
Anthony Morgan, Marie McDemmond, Shirley Walton, Lynn & Leroy Burrows,
Jesus or we will not make it. Like Solomon, Sylvia Ponder, Doris Bishop, Sally McElrath, Debbie McCloud, Joey Milani,
we need discerning judgment of what is Robert S. & family, Louis Talbot, Mrs. Bass, Jeremy & Erica Granier, Michael
Coates, John Crowe, Raymond & Virginia Jones, Chad Nostrant, Julia Dahm,
good and evil. God will grant this gift if we Caron, Carline, Ken, & Anais Pierre, Rick Long, Cotton Elphingstone, Dorene
Trumble, Danielle Vincent, Mary Ondovchik, Ann Rudy, Robert Head, Ximena
ask for it so that we may follow the way of Todd, Philip Lee family, Sonja Robinson, Gary Toler, Shandra Weeks, Raly
Irizairy, Chris M., Nicole Wright, Ashley Ackerman, Niya Amyanwu, Alicia
the Lord. God’s entire storeroom holds Garcia, Pat Reeves, Mary Campbell, Randy Taylor, Brian Strickland, Britton
Garner family, Hattie Jackson, Sr. Mary Bonaventure, LaWanda Wideman,
treasures to help us. Do you seek and use Norma Cortez, Louie Zieba, Pauline Howard, Chinelo Egbosiuba, Patrick &
Melanie Musante, Julian Campbell
them?
Philip J. Sandstrom, S.T.D. © 2001 Oregon Catholic Press. All rights reserved.