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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.”
Matthew 13:44
Today’s Gospel presents us with two very short and similar
parables. In the first, quoted above, the Kingdom of Heaven is
likened to a “treasure.” In the second parable, the Kingdom of
Heaven is likened to a “pearl of great price.” Though these
parables are very similar to each other, there are also subtle
differences worth pondering. It appears that the treasure mentioned
in the first parable is discovered almost by accident. The person
simply “finds” it. This is in contrast to the second parable, in
that the merchant who finds the pearl of great price did so after
“searching” for it.
We often encounter the Treasure of the Gospel without even looking
for it. We do so any time God intervenes in our lives without us
seeking His intervention. For example, if someone were to offer an
act of charity to you without you seeking it out, this is God
giving you a treasure of His Kingdom. Or if someone shares with you
their faith, or an inspiration they received, this is indeed a
treasure given to you by God. The problem is that many times when
we are given these treasures of the Gospel, we do not always see
them as treasures. Imagine, for example, if the person in this
parable were to stumble upon the treasure in the field and fail to
open it out of indifference. They see it from a distance, have a
bit of curiosity about what is in the box, but they are not
energetic enough to actually open the box and look inside. In that
case, the person would have no reason to go and sell all that they
have so as to buy the field in which the treasure is found.
One clear message that this first parable reveals is that we must
be attentive to the countless treasures of God’s graces given to us
each and every day. God is so prolific in offering us grace, that
we truly do stumble upon His grace all the time. Thus, having eyes
to perceive His actions and ears to Hear His Voice is
essential.
A second message clearly given in both of these parables is that
once we discover the graces God gives us every day, we must foster
within ourselves a desire for those graces that is so strong that
we are willing to do anything necessary to obtain them. The
discovery is made through the gift of faith, but the discovery by
faith must then be followed with a zeal that drives our will to
conform to that discovery.
Reflect, today, upon two things. First, have you discovered the
treasures God has given to you? If you hesitate in answering this,
then it’s most likely the case that there is much you have yet to
discover. Secondly, as you do discover the riches that come with
the gift of faith, then have you allowed that which God has spoken
to you to consume you to such a point that you are willing to sell
all you have, meaning, do whatever it takes to further accept all
God wants to bestow? Resolutely determine to go forth on this holy
search and you will find that the riches of grace that you obtain
are of infinite value.
My Lord of all riches, You bestow upon me and upon all Your
children countless graces every day. The treasures of Your mercy
are of infinite value. Please open my eyes so that I can see and my
ears so that I can hear so as to discover all that You wish to
bestow. May You and the riches of Your Kingdom become the one and
only, all-consuming focus of my life. Jesus, I trust in
You.
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Featured image above: Parable of the Hidden Treasure
By Gerrit Dou or Rembrandt, via Wikimedia Commons
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