The Best decision for Greatness-HOMILY FOR THE SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR A 30th July 2023

The Best decision for Greatness-HOMILY FOR THE SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR A 30th July 2023

1Kings 3:5.7-12; Ps.119; Rom.8:28-30; Matthew 13:44-52

 _O Lord, how I love your law_ (Ps.119:97a)

The Best decision for Greatness

The intentions of a man’s heart can only be judged from the choices he makes. From the decisions of a person, the personality of the person can be deciphered. The readings of today dwell on decision making. As free agents, we are familiar with making decisions; but we may not have carefully thought out the governing propensity of our decisions and this has often made us not to have a good grasp of the consequences of our actions. People continue to make decisions whose consequences they abhor with all their strength. They continue to make such decisions while expecting a different result. Since such expectation can never be met, they become frustrated, blame it on others or on God.

So, the pertinent questions before us today are: what are your expectations in life? What decisions are you making today? Is there a logical consequence between your decisions and expectations? Mind you, our philosophy of life influences our decisions. So, to have a bright future, we must have good expectations; to meet such expectations, we must make the right decisions; to make such decisions, we should have a healthy philosophy of life.

In the first reading, God gave the new king Solomon the rare privilege of asking for whatever he wishes. This was after God had chosen Solomon as King after his father David, even though Solomon was among the youngest of David’s sons. While this was a privilege it was also a test. Whatever Solomon will ask for will reflect the content of his heart. For a young man who had been given such exalted and undeserving position, many possibilities are there. He could have asked for long life, riches or the life of his enemies. Any/all of these will enable him enjoy his reign as king. So, it was not out of place that the Lord himself expected Solomon to make any of these decisions.

Solomon could have asked for long life. With long life, he will have more time to enjoy the splendor of kingly glory. This desire has become common especially amongst leaders today. Often time, those in position of authority do not want to leave office. Even when they cannot elongate their stay in a particular office, they try to maneuver their way into another office, just so that they remain around the corridors of power. Of course, the goal is not to have more time to serve but more time to be in-charge and utilize the position for personal glory. Today, we cry out for change in our nation but continue to recycle the same leaders who have proven beyond reasonable doubt that they have no iota of desire to serve; yet they want to continue to lead despite old age and fragile health. It seems the only hope for changing such persons is death; but then, many more like them are waiting to take over.

Solomon could have asked for riches; especially to be richer than the father David. At that time, even now, the splendor and greatness of a king is judged by his possessions in terms of human and economic capacity, number of wives and children, etc. Again, we live in a world where it is the common prayer of every parent that the children will be greater than them. While this prayer seems good, it often translate into children trying to have more material possessions than their parents, without a corresponding growth in spirituality and morality. Hardly do people every consider being more spiritual, more human, more moral conscious than their parents. Infact, moral decadence and spiritual laxity is an obvious experience in today’s society such that our yesterday has become “the good old days”. When the desire to be better than our parents is only in material terms, it becomes a negative desire. Growth is principally marked in terms of value ethics. If we are growing in values, economic growth will consequently follow. But if we are pursuing growth in terms of material acquisition, we will loose our humanness.

Solomon could have asked for the life of his enemies. Of course, Solomon should have many enemies especially since there are others sons of David who could have been king instead of him. Again, the glory of the king increases with his ability to conquer other nations and subdue them. If Solomon will be greater than his father David, then he should increase the territory of the kingdom by winning wars. Today, the struggle to kill enemies has infiltrated many Christian prayers. If a prayer session has not included the intention of killing enemies, then the prayer is not powerful. To meet this desire, some acclaimed men and women of God have come up with many strange and awful practices that are recommended as tactics to kill enemies. Some have become experts in linking everything to enemies. Despite these exploiting creativities, enemies seems to resurrect after death; because dem no dey ever die finish. But if we take up the devil as our real enemies, we will definitely grow in holiness. Today, we are confused in our practice of Christianity because we have made enemies those Christ commanded us to love and have made friend our real enemy.

Solomon asked for wisdom to rule well since he considers himself young for the exalted position of a king. This means that he saw the position as a privilege not a right. His philosophy of life was to serve the people with whatever capacity he has rather than self-aggrandizement. So, it did not matter to Solomon if he doesn’t reign for long, if he is not richer than his father or if he does not expand the territory of the kingdom; provided, he serves more than his father. Beloved, the desire to serve more is the key to making right decisions. The desire to serve more is the desire to make heaven. Those who cannot serve cannot make heaven, because heaven is basically love.

In the gospel reading, Jesus told parables about giving up everything for the sake of heaven. Such decision can only be made by those who consider God’s kingdom first above other things. Beloved, what are your values? What are those things for which you are disposed to make the greatest of sacrifices? For some persons, no matter how poor they are, there is always money for beer or clothes or for betting/gambling or make-up, etc. These are their ultimate values. For the psalmist, the Law of the Lord is his ultimate value. If we emulate the psalmist, then the promises of the second reading becomes ours. For those who love God, those who put aside selfishness for selflessness, God will always work for their good in everything; such was the case of Solomon – added to wisdom, he got long life, riches and victory over enemies.

My dear, let your philosophy of life be to love and serve humanity. This will lead us to always choose what is good for others and a consequent bright future for ourselves. Selfishness is self-destruction.