17TH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME HOMILY YEAR A 2026
PARABLES OF THE TREASURE AND THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE
ACCEPTING NEW AND OLD, DOING GOOD AND COUNTERING EVIL
Mt 13.44-52 1Kings 3.5,7-12 Rom 8.28-30
There’s nothing like variety, with 2 funerals, 2 Aged Care Masses, a Grandparents Mass at OLN, Grade 6 Confirmation visit at St Therese’s, and 6 Baptisms this weekend, then 100 or so Confirmations this coming Thursday, to cap it all off! Not to forget a bit of sideline entertainment at the MCG Friday evening with Cats and Demons, except a pity about the result!!
Also, this past week I was again fortunate to be invited, this time to the musical “Beauty and the Beast”, put on by students from St Columba’s and St Bernard’s Colleges, following on from the week before, where “School of Rock” was performed so well by the students of Ave Maria College.
Once again, it was clear that an enormous amount of time and work had gone into preparing for, and presenting, such a professional show. It was another good parabolic morality tale, (based on an old French fairytale), where Wikipedia tells me: “A selfish prince is cursed to remain a beast forever, unless he can earn the heart of a spirited young woman named Belle (in this case our very own Alana Brennan, who is just brilliant!), before the final petal falls from the enchanted rose”. The singing, acting and dancing all reflected the talents of our enthusiastic young students, growing up fast, with confidence and grace! Once again, I say congratulations and well done to all involved!
What is more, I have to say AI (Artificial Intelligence) analyses it well, in terms of the underlying message: “True love and beauty go far deeper than physical appearances. The story teaches that we should look past superficial traits and value internal qualities like kindness, compassion and empathy. It highlights that love can inspire growth, redemption and healing… The Beast’s frightening appearance hides a sensitive caring soul, while the handsome Gaston hides a shallow, selfish and cruel nature… Outward attractiveness has no bearing on a person’s true character… Love transforms and redeems… Through Belle’s compassion, the Beast learns to control his anger, display thoughtfulness and express vulnerability. In return, the Beast learns the ultimate act of selfless love by letting Belle go to save her father, proving his capacity to care for someone, even more than himself”!!
In contrast, there is no change for the better in the nasty, narcissistic and egotistical Gaston – full of himself, with no interest in anyone else, and prepared to do whatever it takes to lure Belle, and get his own way. Does this sound familiar, in today’s ‘dog eat dog’ world?
The story is more about self-sacrifice, in the pursuit of a higher good. And that applies to the Beast letting Belle go free from his castle, to save her eccentric, or quirky, and amusing inventor father. Even further back, in the original tale, Belle’s mother died of bubonic plague, sacrificing herself, so her father could take baby Belle to safety, so the story goes. And, being a fairytale, all turns out well in the end, for Belle and transformed Beast!
This seems to me to fit very well into today’s Gospel theme, where Matthew has Jesus presenting a few more parables about the value of the Kingdom he proclaims. He uses images, or metaphors, of treasure and a pearl of great price, where one gives all away to pursue the greater good.
Now, we have Solomon in the first reading, realizing that, the most important quality for leadership is wisdom, in order to guide and protect his people as king, discerning what is best for them, and making wise judgements. He seems to understand his limitations, at a youthful age, before later losing his balance and judgement, blinded by all his wealth, women, finery, possessions and power, somewhat like his father David, remorseful and repentant though they might have been in the end. There’s no fool like an old fool, they say! They provide good examples of the need for perseverance in living a good and fulfilling life., and not succumbing or giving in to darker influences.
Then, today’s Gospel reverts to the continuing theme of good and evil in our complex and unpredictable world, where we need to be adaptable to change and making good choices, as I’ve said before! The further example of the dragnet for catching fish is again a reminder of the mixed bag of a world, of which we are all part. Our responsibility is to make sure we are part of the good catch, making the right choices, in our contribution to building a better world, with the attributes of God’s kingdom of justice, love and peace, in the face of the continuing reality of sin and evil present in the world out there. As in the earlier parable of the wheat and the weeds, the ultimate sorting out is left to God, while we do our best in living our faith meanwhile. There will never be any perfection here on earth, whatever we might wish!
Finally, we hear from Jesus, the down to earth example of the householder bringing out new things and old. The scripture scholars suggest that the emphasis here is on the new being mentioned first, so that it might be built on the old, as in the Old Testament and the Law and the Prophets, providing continuity, but, at the same time, development of the Christian message taking priority, in establishing and growing Christian communities.
As Brendan Byrne SJ puts it: “What has come about in Christ transforms older ways of seeing.” And so priorities are changed, with his spirit of compassion, forgiveness and love for all as neighbour, taking precedence over the details of ritual and the Law, including Canon Law today!
Once again, Jesus reassures us that growth will win out, and that the Kingdom will flourish, with justice and peace at the heart of it all. And that’s where we belong, as people of faith in him who calls us to follow in hope and love.
john hannon 26th July 2026