Message of Abbot Paul - Wednesday 28th
Message from Fr Paul for Wednesday, 28th July 2021
Sometime ago I explained that Matthew had organised his material in a very ordered way, interspersing sections composed of miracles with sections made up of teaching. You will see that we are in one of these teaching sections at present, made up mostly of parables, some of them very short indeed, no more than a sentence. Our Gospel passage today, (Mt 13: 44-46), consists of two such mini-parables, if I may call them that. To put them into some sort of context, the compilers of the Lectionary have put in a brief introductory sentence, “Jesus said to the crowds.” This, then, is what he said: “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field which someone has found; he hides it again, goes off happy, sells everything he owns and buys the field.
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls; when he finds one of great value he goes and sells everything he owns and buys it.”
How short can these parables get, yet they run deep with meaning? They are both Parables of the Kingdom, Jesus whetting the spiritual appetite of his hearers with the phrase, “The kingdom of heaven is like…” And the kingdom can be compared with a treasure hidden in a field, a treasure so valuable, that the sale of all you have is worth it, if only you can buy the field and so own the treasure. What are we willing to sell or to give up in order to take possession of the treasure which is the kingdom of heaven? Our self-will, or time and interests, other loves. To become citizens of the kingdom demands sacrifice, if necessary, the giving up of everything else in favour of the kingdom, the following of Jesus, living the Gospel life. The other parable is similar. Now the example is of a merchant or jeweller, perhaps, who discovers a pearl of great value. No sacrifice is too great to own that pearl. Everything else can be sold if only the pearl can be his. Two parables, the same message: the kingdom at first is hidden, but once we find it, then no sacrifice is too great if only we can enter there and enjoy the life of its citizens.
Lord, in these parables today, you are confronting me with a stark choice. Either I want the kingdom or I don’t; either I am prepared to give everything I have for it, or I’m not. Give me the grace and wisdom I need to make the right decision, and then the faith and courage to pursue it. Amen.
