1 Kgs
3:5, 7-12; Rom 8:28-30; Mt 13:44-52
The
gospel today gives us two short parables about the kingdom of heaven. The first
one is about a person who, after finding a treasure buried in a field, sold
everything he had in order to buy the field and take possession of the
treasure. The second is about a merchant who, after discovering a pearl of
great price, sold all he had in order to purchase the precious pearl.
“Parables
are earthly stories with heavenly meanings.” What are the lessons that we can
learn from the parables we just read?
First
of all, we should not think that the parables are asking us to buy the kingdom
of heaven with our money. The kingdom of God is priceless and is to be given
free to those who are found worthy. An evil person cannot enter heaven even if
he has all the money in the world. To get into heaven, a person needs only the
riches of his heart – like gentleness, generosity, compassion, and mercy.
The
most important lesson of the parables is this: the kingdom of God must be first
in all our priorities. The person who wishes to be in heaven or to enjoy life
with God must be ready to lose everything for it. If we choose God in our life,
we must be willing to let go of other treasures that we enjoy possessing. “God
may well be taken as a substitute for everything; but nothing can be taken as a
substitute for God.” The kingdom is more valuable than all the riches in the
world: “For what does it profit to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses
his own soul?” This is an important reminder for all because many of us have
misguided priorities in life.
If we
are given the choice, what do we prefer: gold, glory or God? It is easy to say
that we prefer “God” in our lives, but sadly, this is not what we see in
people’s priorities today. Often, the desire for wealth and honor would push
people to spend their precious time for work and business only. The prevailing
culture suggest that to be happy, one must have more and achieve more. Hence,
people are willing to sacrifice their time for the family in order to earn more
money. Many also are ready to surrender their Christian principles and values
just to keep their fame and glory.
The
well-known story of Solomon should inspire us all. In a dream, God offered to
give him the one thing that he wanted. Being young, Solomon could have asked
for wealth or glory or long life. But
realizing the great task ahead of him, Solomon thought that what he really
needed was the wisdom to rule his people well in the ways of God. Wisdom or
God’s inspiration is what Solomon asked. And God was so pleased with Solomon
and He promised him more than the gift of wisdom, including riches, glory and
long life. The song we always love to sing is right: “Seek ye first the kingdom
of God and his righteousness, and all good things shall be added unto you.”
Mother
Teresa of Calcutta and John Paul II both died leaving no property, for they had
not accumulated treasures on earth. They
found their treasure in a life given totally to the service of God and of the
Church. The parables are true: Those who discover the treasure of the kingdom
will be happy to let go of everything to follow and be close to Jesus.
