What is it actually worth? What is it worth to me?

Those are two very different questions. The first concerns what might be called the "objective value" of something (What is it actually worth?); the second has to do with the "personal value" I place on something (What is it worth to me?).

Most of the time, incidentally, these two "values" don’t match up. At times we personally value something beyond what it’s really worth; at other times the opposite is the case.

For example, I own a car, and I own a set of DCI Titleist golf clubs. Objectively speaking, the car is worth much more than the clubs. But—in all honesty— if I had to part with one or the other, I’d give up the car, without question! ‘Cause I really like my golf clubs! Those DCI’s were custom made for me, and when I actually swing them properly (which does happen on rare occasions!) the ball takes off! (By the way, that does not mean I will be giving away my car after Mass; so please don’t ask me for the keys! I share this simply to make a point.)

In today’s first reading from 1 Kings 3, the Lord—who is far more generous than I am—tells King Solomon to ask him for something. Solomon responds by saying, "Give your servant . . . an understanding heart to judge your people and to distinguish right from wrong." With these words, Solomon asks for wisdom. The new Catechism defines wisdom as "A spiritual gift which enables one to know the purpose and plan of God." Clearly, that makes it extremely valuable—objectively speaking—because it empowers us to know God’s will. But, I dare say, very few people value this gift on the personal level as much as Solomon did! The personal value he placed on wisdom was seemingly very close to its objective value—which is why God commends him! In effect, the Lord says, "Solomon, you could have asked me for riches or for the fleeting pleasures of this world, but you chose to ask for something which is worth far more, something which will benefit you and others spiritually—and so it’s yours!"

At least at this point in his life, Solomon had the right perspective on things.

Today the Lord, in all 3 readings and in our responsorial psalm, challenges us to place our highest personal value on him and on matters of the Spirit.

The psalmist says to us, "The law of your mouth [O Lord] is to me more precious than thousands of gold and silver pieces. . . . For I love your commands more than gold, however fine." Is God’s law (which comes to us through the Church) that precious to us? Or, like "cafeteria Catholics," do we disregard the parts of it we don’t like? How much do we value it personally?

In our second reading from Romans 8 Paul promises us that "all things [will] work for good" in our lives—even the tragedies and evils we experience. But there is one qualification on the promise: it’s for those "who love God." That is to say, it’s for those who personally value the Lord and their relationship with him.

And finally, in this Gospel text from Matthew 13, Jesus compares the kingdom of God first to a treasure in a field and then to a very precious pearl. In each case, a man sells everything he has to purchase the object he values.

There are two lessons for us in this Gospel text. The first lesson is that our actions—not our words—ultimately reveal what we truly value. Notice that both men did something because they wanted to obtain what they really valued.

It’s very easy for someone to say that he loves God. But if that same person lives like a hedonistic, materialistic pagan, then it’s clear he doesn’t. His actions indicate that he values other things more than his relationship with the Lord.

The second lesson is the lesson of this homily: that the personal value we put on God and the things of God must be of the highest order. We’re told that these men sold everything to obtain what they valued. That fact is significant. They didn’t hold anything back; they made a total commitment!