Wow, each of these readings, including our Psalm, is powerful and deserve our heartfelt reflection.  But don't worry I won't make this homily too long, I promise.  And don't worry about remembering each point because they all kind of focus our attention toward the same goal and all encourage and challenge us to do the same thing: and that is to seek the Greatest Good.  Let us open our hearts and let our Lord and the Church teach us to seek the Greatest Good.

In our 1st reading, Solomon, you might remember, is the son of the great King David, the great king who faithfully spread and united the kingdom.  And David taught his son, Solomon, to follow the Lord.  In our 1st reading from 1st Kings, God promises the young Solomon that He will grant him whatever he asks for.  Many young people who have a new found wealth or prestige and who can have whatever they want, seek the things they think will make them happy- the riches and the things of this world.  But let us learn from young King Solomon, who instead of asking for goods or things for himself- he asks for what will be for the good of others.  He asks for wisdom to understand what is good and evil, to distinguish right from wrong.  Although Solomon could have anything he wanted, what young Solomon understood, and what he teaches you and I, is that without a proper relationship with God, we will not know what to do with the things, and without the proper intention and focus, those things will destroy.  Let me say that again, without the proper relationship with God, one will not know what to do with the things, and thus in the end those things will destroy them.  I think of the many young actors/ actresses like Lindsay Lohan, Miley Cyrus, who at one point could have whatever they wanted, but they lost it all because they weren't desiring the greater good, the only good that will truly make them happy.  Solomon could have had anything, but he had his desires ordered rightly, he sought to keep the good things in proper perspective; by knowing good from evil he was able to desire the greater good.  And because Solomon's desires were ordered rightly, God was most generous in granting what Solomon asked for.  Similarly, St. Thomas Aquinas, after he had written his exhaustive volumes on the doctrine of the faith, God also asked him to ask for whatever he wanted and it would be granted.  And St. Thomas famously answered, "I'll have nothing, except you, Lord".  Again, like Solomon, Aquinas had the proper relationship, he had the goods ordered rightly, so that He desired nothing but the Greatest Good, God Himself.  So let us ask God to order our desires rightly so that we can seek the Greatest Good.  But let us also reflect on our other readings to be inspired even more.

Our Psalm says: "Lord, I love your commands, they are more precious than gold and silver".  Is that true for you, do you love God's commands, do you love his teachings more than anything else?  Maybe there are a few you don't follow, or reluctantly follow. We are challenged to love the Lord's commands above all else because that is the Greatest Good and will make us happy.

Similarly the 1st line in our 2nd reading can be convicting and challenging- "We know that all things work for good for those who love God".  Do we know that to be true?  I know that doesn't mean that bad things will not ever happen; but it does mean that for those who love God, whatever happens, whether good or bad, can be contributed to his purpose.  Is intimately knowing God's love for you the most important thing in life?  Do you really love God above all else?  Do you believe in your heart that whatever happens will happen, and whatever happens, good or bad, is OK as long as God's love is consistent, because God's love is most important?

Lastly let us look at and reflect on our Gospel.  Jesus says, "the kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure in a field, in which a person out of joy goes and sells all he has and buys that field".  What is the treasure that you will sell everything for?  That treasure should be our faith, it should be the wisdom of Solomon, it should be Aquinas' wanting nothing but God.  The greatest treasure in life is having that right relationship with God and letting whatever happens, happen. 

What is the pearl of great price in your life?  Like a merchant that will take all that time and energy to seek and find one great pearl worth more than all others, what is the pearl of great price in your life, what do you spend the most time and energy seeking?

holding in his hand that little white pearl- knowing that whatever it took to get it was worth it, all the seeking and longing has finally been realized. (Pause) Do you know what that pearl of great price is in your life?  That pearl should be the Holy Eucharist- that little white host that you can hold in your hand is the pearl of great price.  For it cost the life of our Savior.  Do you know that in each and every Mass, the Suffering, Death upon the Cross, and Resurrection of Christ- which began at the Last Supper- is made present for us.  That one event which took place 2000 years ago on earth, but which is eternally present in Heaven, is made present for us today, in each and every Mass.  St. Thomas Aquinas said, "The celebration of Holy Mass is as valuable as the death of Jesus on the Cross".  The source of our eternal life is re-presented to us, and every Mass is called to be a deeper realization of it, each and every Mass is to make that source of life and grace more and more effective in our lives.  Is the Mass the pearl of great price for you- is it what you seek and long for all week long?  Is the Mass the Greatest Good in your life?  Would you sell everything, would you give up everything, even every good thing for one Mass?  When our hearts are longing for, are seeking Jesus, who is the Greatest Good, then all our desires are ordered rightly, whatever happens will happen, because nothing compares to the love of God made so real and present as it is at every Mass.