Gospel Reading: Mt 13:44-46
JESUS said to his disciples: “The Kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again, and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the Kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls. When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it.”
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Jesus compares the Kingdom of heaven to a hidden treasure and to a pearl of great price. The value of both is huge. The treasure hunter and the pearl merchant experience great joy and take swift action in selling all their assets in order to possess the treasure and the pearl.
Jesus depicts the Kingdom of heaven as a pure gift, but also as something we must yearn and strive for. The treasure hunter spends many years with his pickaxe until his lucky day comes. The treasure is discovered as a free gift and as the result of patient effort. The merchant of fine pearls takes many years of assiduous search until he finally finds the pearl beyond compare.
Both the treasure hunter and the pearl merchant do something very radical and brave. They decide to sell all their other possessions. There is no quibbling on their part, unlike the rich young man who will hesitate when Jesus will ask him to sell everything he has and give to the poor (cf Mt 19:16-22).
The Apostle Paul considered everything as “rubbish” when compared to the joy of knowing Jesus Christ (cf Phil 3:8).
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SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord 2017” ST. PAULS Philippines, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 895-9701; Fax 895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.
