Newsletter July 26th 2026 / 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time

17th Sunday in Ordinary Time – “The Treasure of the Kingdom”

A Seeking Heart, a Life Open to Grace

When Solomon stood before God, the young king could have asked for wealth, power, or a long reign. Instead, he asked for wisdom “to discern between good and evil.” In that humble request, we glimpse the first secret of the kingdom: a heart that truly loves God seeks to recognise what belongs to Him.

· St. Paul reminds us that this desire is not accidental. It is the work of a loving Father who “works all things for the good of those who love him.” The gifts we receive faith, hope, and the sacraments are the means by which God shapes us in the likeness of Christ, our greatest treasure.

· Jesus tells us that the kingdom is like a hidden treasure, a pearl of great price, and a net that gathers every kind of fish. Each image asks us: What am I willing to give up to possess the Kingdom?

· If, like Solomon, we pray for a discerning heart, we begin to see the hidden value of the Eucharist, the love of     neighbour, and the grace present even in painful moments. If we trust the promise of Romans, we surrender our doubts, believing that even our trials belong within God’s marvellous plan. And if we respond to the parables, we cast our nets wide, opening our homes, families, and workplaces to the boundless love of Christ.

May this Sunday awaken in us a longing for the true treasure: Christ, the pearl of great price,

present in the sacrament of the altar, and the wisdom to share that gift for the good of all.

“May the Lord grant you a wise and discerning heart, that you may love his people and keep you from the evil you may have done” (1 Kgs 3:12). Let us pray for that grace and for the courage to live it each day. Amen.