My dear friends in Christ, today is the 17 th Sunday in ordinary time year A.
In the readings of this liturgy, we are being reminded to seek for something more precious, which gives meaning and right direction to our life.

In the first reading, God asks king Solomon to make a request. King
Solomon did not ask God to give him money, wealth and power, instead, he requested for what is truly important to him, and what can bring true
happiness in his life -the gift of understanding to discern what is good and
evil. He said, ‘give your servant therefore an understanding mind to
govern your people, able to discern between good and evil’. God was
pleased with Solomon’s request; he gave him wisdom and shrewd which no one ever had and no one will ever have after King Solomon. Basically, we need wisdom so that we can properly take of ourselves, and others
entrusted to our care.

We may ask ourselves, what is wisdom and how does one acquire wisdom?
First of all, wisdom does not necessarily come through academic learning;
there are many people with series of academic diplomas and degrees that
are not wise.

Secondly, it is not in the ability to speak fluently and
eloquently and be listened to by people. Again, wisdom does not always
come with age. It can be found in older people, but also in younger ones, as young king Solomon.  And so, wisdom is a special gift from God, which helps one to put first things first in life. Wisdom helps one to know what is most important and what is less important. Wisdom gives the right direction in one’s life. It makes someone able to aim at the right things, the things that are of true value.  We may ask ourselves again, what is that valuable treasure that we needed
most?

Today’s gospel answers the question:

The man mentioned in the gospel reading was a wise man. He knew how to choose between not only the good and bad, but even between the good and the best. The gospel told us that he found treasure in a field, hid it and with joy left and sold everything he had and bought that field. He sold out all his possessions, but he has the land and the treasure in it. He was a wise man, and indeed a happy man.

What message does this story has for us? The message has to do with that
treasure which is so precious that one should sell everything in order to get it. That treasure Jesus calls it: ‘the kingdom of heaven’, in other words,
God’s friendship. We need to treasure our friendship with God more than
anything else, even the things that are most precious to us. This parable is
fundamentally rooted with someone’s inner experience of God’s love which prompted him to order his entire life towards God. And so, our relationship with God should come before and above all things. We should value our friendship with God and prioritize it in our life.

Furthermore, it is a relationship which may sometimes demand sacrifice.
This sacrifice could be what the man in Jesus story made. The bible says
that he sold “everything he owned”. We might not be asked to give up
everything we have to remain friends with God. Perhaps, there are other
things we might take out of our lives so that the friendship between God and us may increase. Things like hatred, anger and hot temper, domestic
violence, stealing, lying, hurting and betraying our loved ones, gossiping,
character assassination, name them. None of these can be compatible with my life and friendship with God.

Moreover, even good things like the love of my family, friends, neighbors,
and even success in my work should not come between God and me. We
remember the words of Jesus that, “anyone who loves their father or
mother more than me is not worthy of me (Mt. 10.37)”. We should
not only be ready to sacrifice certain things in order to keep our friendship
with God, but we should be happy to do so. Jesus clearly said that, the man
who discovered the treasure goes off cheerfully. He is cheerful because of
the treasure he found, and also happy for giving up everything he possess in order acquire the most valuable and most precious treasure.

Finally, it is better understood that, the happiest people on earth are not
those who acquired best of things, but those who simply appreciated what
they have. Let us appreciate our friendship with God, no matter what it
might cost. Also, let us be happy that God wants to share with us, his love
and friendship. Today, take a moment to reflect and ask yourself, what are
those things very precious to you? Then, besides each of them, put God’s
friendship and ask yourself what comes really first in your life?