The Surpassing Treasure of God's Kingdom
Introduction: May you deepen your trust in God and the plan
that God has for your life, especially during the most trying of times.
Have you ever desired something so much that you were
willing to do almost anything in order to obtain it? As you worked toward
achieving that for which you longed, were you willing to spend time, energy,
and other possessions? Some people scrape and cut back from normal spending in
order to purchase a dream house. Others become so caught up in the cause in
which they believe, that they are willing to forsake their own pursuits in
order to further the cause. God is offering us a treasure beyond our wildest
imaginations. God will give it to us, if we are willing to patiently trust the
Lord Jesus, seek the wisdom of knowing that God is in control, and do whatever
is right and just in order to be a part of God’s eternal plan for us and for
others.
Today’s readings speak of the gifts that accompany being
part of the Reign of God. In the First Reading, God asks Solomon, as the new
King of Israel, what gift he would like to receive from God so that he might
reign over the kingdom. He asks for an understanding heart (wisdom). The
Responsorial Psalm focuses on the wisdom of God’s precepts. In the Second
Reading, St. Paul speaks about the wisdom we possess if we start to understand
God’s plan in the midst of our suffering. In the Gospel, Jesus speaks about the
wisdom of those who seek to put themselves under the Reign of God, and the
price they must pay to be in the Reign of God.
First Reading: 1 Kings 3:5-6a, 7-12: ‘You have asked for
yourself understanding.’
Commentary: How
many of our modern politicians and monarchs would do well to imitate this
prayer of Solomon as he comes to the throne! He is touchingly conscious of his
own inadequacies and inexperience. He does not ask for anything for his own
advantage, but just for the skills he needs to rule his people well. In reply
the LORD promises him plenty of material rewards. Immediately afterwards, as
illustration of the wisdom which is given to him, we have the famous story of
‘The Judgement of Solomon’, how he settled the dispute between two prostitutes,
each claiming as her own the live baby of two, the other of whom had died. His
wisdom became so renowned that several collections of witty and pungent
proverbs in the Bible are attributed to him. The LORD made him a canny businessman
too, for he built up a fortune as middleman, selling horses from Asia Minor to
Egypt, and chariots to go with them from Egypt to Asia Minor, as well as mining
the minerals of the land. No wonder the Queen of Sheba was bowled over! The
reading is given here perhaps to pair with the gospel picture of the disciple
who in the parables brings out wisdom new and old.
Responsorial Psalm 119:57, 72. 76-77. 127-128. 129-130: O
LORD, how I love your law!
Psalm 119 is the longest psalm, and it proclaims the wisdom
of God in giving the divine precepts and laws to the people of God. It also is
an affirmation of the blessings received by those who wisely follow God’s ways.
God’s plans are what we should chose, even if they do not fully correspond with
understanding.
Second Reading: Romans 8:28-30: ‘He predestined to be
conformed to the image of his Son.’
Commentary: It is
time for Paul to start summing up the benefits of the Spirit which he has
detailed in this chapter. In his excitement he switches to high rhetoric, using
a triple chain-figure which he uses also elsewhere in his exalted conclusions:
‘destined – called, called – justified, justified – glorified’.
content about
which he is justifiably so excited is that God’s chosen ones are moulded to the
image, shape or pattern of his Son. Not merely co-heirs but conformed. To
underline this assimilation to Christ, Paul uses every metaphor he can find:
con-crucified with Christ, con-buried with him, con-risen with him, congruent
with him. Living with Christ’s life, moulded to the pattern of Christ, the
Christian takes on Christ’s history as his or her own. This is the personal
aspect of being plunged into Christ’s death at baptism. The community aspect
will be explored in the letters to the quarrelsome community at Corinth: as all
Christians live with Christ’s life, Christians form one single body, vivified
by the same life-giving Spirit, and therefore must help and serve one another
as members of the same body, each contributing a different gift, one being an
ear, one an eye, one a hand.
Gospel: Matthew 13:44-52: ‘He sells all that he has and
buys that field.’
Commentary: Three
final pictures this week from Matthew’s collection of Jesus’ images of the
Christian community. Matthew likes pairs of parables: the dragnet pairs with
last week’s darnel-parable, the treasure pairs with the pearl. The Kingdom is
an exciting and unexpected treasure which can change our whole life, like
winning the pools or the lottery – except that God’s gifts change us only
for the good, and fill our lives with meaning and joy. Of course we know that
God’s call is demanding: you’ve got to pay a price for the field in which the
treasure lies, or the genuine pearl found in a junk-shop.
The very last picture – the householder bringing down
different food-packets, pots and jars off the shelf – is encouraging too:
some are old favourites (perhaps the Christian values and prayers which we
inherited from our families), but some add new flavours too, which we have
discovered or been taught ourselves. If we listen, the Spirit is always there
to show us new ways of living out our Christian call, an opportunity for prayer
or help or service. This ‘householder’ is often thought to be Matthew’s own
secret signature: he brings out old and new in the Christian message.
Reflection: What do you treasure the most and how do you keep
it from being lost or stolen? In a peasant community the best safe was often
the earth. The man in the parable (Matthew 13:44) "went in his joy"
to sell everything. Why? Because he found a treasure worth possessing above all
else he had. He did not, however, have enough to buy the treasure. Fortunately,
he only needed enough to buy the field. In a similar fashion, God offers his
kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy (Romans 14:17) as incomparable
treasure at a price we can afford! We can't pay the full price for the life
which God gives us; but when we exchange our life for the life which God
offers, we receive a treasure beyond compare.
Obtaining the greatest
possible treasure: The pearl of great price also tells us a similar
lesson. Pearls in the ancient world came to represent the supremely valuable.
Jesus remarked that one should not cast pearls before swine (Matthew 7:6). Why
would a merchant sell everything for a peerless pearl? No doubt because he was
attracted to what he thought was the greatest treasure he could possess.
Discovering God's kingdom is like stumbling across hidden treasure or finding
the one pearl of great price.
When we discover the kingdom of God we receive the greatest
possible treasure - the Lord himself. Selling all that we have to obtain this
incomparable treasure could mean many things - our friends, job, our
"style of life", what we do with our free time. Treasure has a
special connection to the heart, the place of desire and longing, the place of
will and focus. The thing we most set our heart on is our highest treasure. In
this parable what does the treasure of the kingdom refer to? It certainly
refers to the kingdom of God in all its aspects. But in a special way, the Lord
himself is the treasure we seek for. If the Almighty is your gold and your
precious silver, then you will delight yourself in the Almighty (Job 22:22-
23). Is the Lord the treasure and delight of your heart?
God draws us into his kingdom:
What can a story of a dragnet and a great catch of fish tell us
about God's kingdom? The two most common ways of fishing in Jesus' time was
with a casting-net (or hand-net) which was thrown from the shore and the
drag-net or trawl which was let down or cast into the waters from a boat. As
the boat moved through the waters the drag-net was drawn into the shape of a
great cone which indiscriminately took in all kinds of fish and flotsam and
jetsam swept in its path. It usually took several men to haul such a net to
shore.
What is Jesus' point here? Just as a drag-net catches every
kind of fish in the sea, so the church acts as God's instrument for gathering
in all who will come. Just as the drag-net does not or cannot discriminate, so
the church does not discriminate between the good and the bad, the useless and
the useful. God's kingdom is open to all who will accept and believe. But there
will come a time of separation, at the close of the age, when the angels will
send the good and the bad to their respective destinations. Our task is to
gather in all who will come. God, in the end, will give the good (those who
accept and follow Christ) and the bad (those who refuse Christ) the reward they
deserve. God offers the treasure of his kingdom to all who believe in Christ. Do
you hunger for God and for his kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy?
Training for God's kingdom: When
Jesus had finished speaking about his parables, he turned to his disciples and
asked them, "Have you understood all this?" (Matthew 13:52). Jesus
asks us the same question. If we want to understand the meaning and
significance of the parables for our daily lives, then we must reflect and
think through what the Lord is saying to us through his instruction. The Holy
Spirit is our guide and teacher who helps us to grow in understanding of God's
word in the Scriptures.
Importance of readying and
studying God's word: What is the point of Jesus' parable about a
"scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew
13:52)? Scribes were specially devoted to the study and practice of God's word
entrusted to Moses (the first five books of the Bible) and in instructing
others in how to live according to it. In the Old Testament Ezra was called
"the ready scribe of the law of the God of heaven" (Book of Ezra
7:6,21). He received this title because he "had prepared his heart to seek
the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and
judgments" (Ezra 7:10). Ezra's heart was set on the kingdom of heaven
because he revered God's word and he taught others through example and
instruction to love and obey God's word.
The old and new treasures of
God's word: Why does Jesus compare a "trained scribe" with
a "householder who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is
old" (Matthew 13:52)? Some people love to store up old prized possessions
along with their newly acquired prizes. Others are eager to get rid of the old
to make room for the new. So why does Jesus seem to emphasize keeping the old
along with the new? Why not replace the old, especially if the new seems to be
better or more useful? Wouldn't a person want to throw away an old pair of
shoes and replace them with a new pair - especially if the old pair became
well-worn or torn beyond repair? But, who in his right mind would throw away an
old precious jewel or some old gold coins simply because they were ancient and
maybe tarnished a bit? Precious gems and gold do not lose their value with age!
Like choice vintage wine they increase in value. Jesus'
parable of the "old" and the "new" certainly points to the
"older covenants" which God made with his covenanted people of the
Old Testament, beginning with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and with Moses on
Mount Sinai, and with King David the precursor of the Messiah (Psalm 89:3 and
Psalm 110:1). Jesus' parable also points to the "new covenant" which
he came to establish through the shedding of his blood on the cross and the
anointing of his Holy Spirit who seals the new covenant on the day of
Pentecost. Jesus did not come to abolish the Old Covenant but to fulfill it.
The Lord calls us to treasure all of his word - all of his commandments,
promises, precepts, and teaching (Psalm 119:14,72,127,162). Do you promise to
keep all of God's commands? The Lord gives strength, blessing, and joy to those
who treasure all of his word.
We would be impoverished today if we only possessed the
treasures of the word of God in the "Old Testament" Scriptures or if
we only knew the treasures of the "New Testament" Scriptures. Both
the Old and New Testament Scriptures are given by the same eternal Father,
inspired by the same eternal Holy Spirit, and fulfilled by the same eternal
Word, the Lord Jesus Christ, who was with the Father from the beginning and who
was sent from heaven to take on human flesh for our salvation (John 1:1-3,14).
Unity of the Old and New
Testaments: There is a profound unity between the Old and New
Testaments. Both are divinely inspired by one and the same Spirit (2 Timothy
3:16). The Old Testament prepares for the New and the New Testament fulfills
the Old - the two shed light on each other. The Old Testament prepared the way
for the coming of Jesus Christ as the redeemer of all who would be saved
through his sacrifice on the cross. The New Testament lies hidden in the Old
and the Old Testament is unveiled in the New. That is why Jesus interpreted the
Old Testament Scriptures for his disciples and explained how he came to fulfill
what was promised and foreshadowed in the Old (Luke 24:27). That is why we read
the Old Testament in the light of Christ's saving death and resurrection. Do
you revere the word of God in the Scriptures - both old and new - and see their
fulfillment in the Lord Jesus Christ?
Lord Jesus, may your word take deep root in my heart and
transform my way of thinking, discerning, and acting. May your Spirit open my
ears to hear and understand the word of God in the Scriptures that I may revere
and treasure both the Old and the New Testaments which God has prepared for all
who desire to enter his kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy. Help me to be
a diligent student and faithful disciple of your word.
Daily Quote from the Early
Church Fathers: The surpassing gift of love, by John Chrysostom
(347-407 AD)
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is said to be like a
merchant who is seeking fine pearls. He finds one really precious pearl, and,
having found it, he sells everything he has in order to buy it. In the same
way, he who has a clear knowledge of the sweetness of heavenly life gladly
leaves behind all the things he loved on earth. Compared with that pearl,
everything else fades in value. He forsakes those things that he has and
scatters those things that he has gathered. His heart yearns for heavenly
things, and nothing on earth pleases him. The allure of earthly things has now
dissipated, for only the brilliance of that precious pearl dazzles his mind.
Solomon justly says of such love, 'Love is strong as death' (Song of Solomon
8:6 ), because just as death destroys the body, so ardent desire for eternal
life cuts off the love for material things. For love makes insensitive to
extraneous earthly desires the person whom it has swept off his feet."
(excerpt from FORTY GOSPEL HOMILIES 11.2.1)
feeling inadequate?: “I
am a mere youth, not knowing at all how to act.” —1 Kings 3:7
Do you feel inadequate? Maybe you don’t have the slightest
idea how you should act in a certain situation or in most situations. Like
Solomon, ask the Lord for an understanding heart (1 Kgs 3:9). The Lord will
make you more than adequate.
Some of you feel it’s too late. Your life is already in
shambles. You’ve been abused, broken, and shattered. However, the Lord promises
to make “all things work together for the good of those who love” Him (Rm
8:28). Give your brokenness to Jesus, and He will use it as raw material for a
miracle. In Him, you can do all things (see Phil 4:13).
You may feel that your resources, education, energy, etc.
are inadequate. Nevertheless, the Lord tells you that you can purchase the most
precious treasure of all, that is, the kingdom of God. He has made it
affordable for you. God’s kingdom does not cost a certain amount but a certain
percentage: 100% (Mt 13:44-46). You can purchase it but can’t purchase anything
else if you do.
You don’t have to feel inadequate. In Christ, you have
understanding, miracles, strength (Phil 4:13), hope (Col 1:27), energy (Col
1:29), joy (Jn 15:11), and peace (Jn 16:33). In Christ, you have God’s kingdom.
You are more than adequate.
Prayer: Father, may I rejoice in my exalted position as
Your child (see 2 Cor 6:18). “The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant’s search
for fine pearls. When he found one really valuable pearl, he went back and put
up for sale all that he had and bought it.” —Mt 13:45-46. Praise Jesus, “the
Resurrection and the Life” (Jn 11:25), Whose name is exalted above the heavens!
The personal action for
today: If God were to promise to
give to me anything for which I asked, would I choose wisdom or some other
gift? What does having patience mean to me? In what areas of my life could I
benefit from being more patient? Do I sense that God will make all things work
together for my Good? How can I help reassure others that God will see to it
that all things work out for their Good as God envisions?
Saints Joachim and Anne: In the Scriptures, Matthew and Luke furnish a
legal family history of Jesus, tracing ancestry to show that Jesus is the
culmination of great promises. Not only is his mother’s family neglected, we
also know nothing factual about them except that they existed. Even the names
“Joachim” and “Anne” come from a legendary source written more than a century
after Jesus died.
The heroism and holiness of these people however, is
inferred from the whole family atmosphere around Mary in the Scriptures.
Whether we rely on the legends about Mary’s childhood or make guesses from the
information in the Bible, we see in her a fulfillment of many generations of
prayerful persons, herself steeped in the religious traditions of her people.
The strong character of Mary in making decisions, her
continuous practice of prayer, her devotion to the laws of her faith, her
steadiness at moments of crisis, and her devotion to her relatives—all indicate
a close-knit, loving family that looked forward to the next generation even
while retaining the best of the past.
Joachim and Anne—whether these are their real names or
not—represent that entire quiet series of generations who faithfully perform
their duties, practice their faith, and establish an atmosphere for the coming
of the Messiah, but remain obscure.
This is the “feast of grandparents.” It reminds grandparents
of their responsibility to establish a tone for generations to come: They must
make the traditions live and offer them as a promise to little children. But
the feast has a message for the younger generation as well. It reminds the
young that older people’s greater perspective, depth of experience, and
appreciation of life’s profound rhythms are all part of a wisdom not to be
taken lightly or ignored.
