1 Kgs. 3:5, 7-12; Ps. 119:57, 72, 76-77, 127-130; Rom. 8:28-30; Mt. 13:44-52

The kingdom of heaven is not an entitlement we collect by simply claiming “I believe in God”.  The kingdom of God is something we must seek and sacrifice for to be given the understanding of Solomon.  We are to first be conformed to the image of his Son to enter the kingdom of God.  In an age where we value acceptance of “our identity” as we claim it, we lose sight of identifying with the image of God’s son who is “other” than ourselves.  We are “right” in seeking God’s image as our being and “wrong” in claiming our own as an entitlement. 

Wisdom is from God to give an “understanding heart…to distinguish right from wrong” and respond with prudence in doing his will.  In the gospel today, Jesus continues with his parables to the wise and prudent describing the significance of the kingdom of God to humanity as the eternal love and longing of our purpose of life.  The wisdom of Solomon was judging rightly with what to ask for in service to God’s kingdom.  Solomon’s love for God was in being the best he was created to be as the leader of his people.  Our love for God then is in being our best in responding to our calling in life in service to others. 

This is challenging and difficult if not impossible without the grace from God that comes by searching with the heart of understanding God’s will for our personal calling in life.  In the worst of situations and in the best of situations “all things work for good for those who love God.”  God is mercy when we seek our identity in him. 

For some time, it was popular with the youth to carry bracelets with the letters WWJD meaning “what would Jesus do”.  This is seeking out our identity in him, inviting him into our “space” and time which if we claim to belong to Jesus is his rightful space and seeking understanding through the Spirit to respond in his image in this moment of our being. 

Now is the time to recapture that moment of truth “what Jesus will do through his servant of love”.  Such great challenges have been conquered by the saints and souls who surrender to God actively seeking to do his will.  Have we asked him today “what is your will for me this day Lord?” 

Sometimes we compartmentalize life into steps, such as step one is to “pray” and step two is “go forth”, and step three is “action” as a cognitive process like learning to type where all the keys are and consciously thinking of all the keys.  Learning to type is a cognitive process but typing is the unconscious process of being able to “just do it”.  In the same way Christianity is taking all our prayers, devotions, and understanding to “just do it” in charity being the image of God through the Spirit that is with us.  Let us give God the freedom to “just do it” in our being through an act of the will and the mystery of his kingdom will reign in us. 

The evil one is “prowling about the world seeking the ruins of souls” when we see hatred, violence, and destruction justified a “right” and authority, order, and peace shamed as “wrong” in an effort to create a new “kingdom” not of God but of this world.  It is a spiritual battle for the souls of the people fought not only on the streets but in every church and home.  One day I was struggling with making a difficult decision as a child and I asked my mother for guidance in her “understanding”.  I was totally surprised when she responded “you will have to decide”.  In her wisdom the right answer needed to come from me through the Spirit given at baptism.  She understood I would be the one who would live with the consequences of the decision. 

This nation is facing a difficult decision and we each must decide where our Christian values are best represented and supported not simply in our inner being but in our outward expression in the public square.  As Catholics we value the outward expression of our faith in statues, crosses, the arts, and even the sciences together with our right to assembly and worship.  This cannot be governed, shamed, or silenced by an oppressive voice in the public domain.  Today “you will have to decide” to who you surrender power to, either God and the kingdom of heaven or the evil one and the kingdom of hell. Blessed Mother Mary pray for us.