One of the benefits of my neighborhood visits has been getting to know each of our families a little better. It also helps me make a personal connection with the many wonderful people that make up our parish. So far, I have been to about 150 houses and each one of them has been a little different. When you walk through a tight-knit community like Shrewsbury, you start to see individual’s personalities and passions displayed in various ways. For example, some homes have perfectly manicured lawns, with beautiful flowerbeds, perennial gardens, and trimmed trees. It's like walking into a miniature botanical garden. Other people focus less on their yard and more on their home. These are the folks whose house looks like it belongs in a magazine. The exterior of their home is perfectly cared for, they have done all the preventative repairs and everything is up-to-date. But these are not the only types, some people don't worry too much about the yard, or their house, but instead put everything into their car, or in some cases, cars. Finally, there are those who devote their interest and energy to collectibles or books or electronics or any other number of things. Each of these homes, all of which I have seen during my walk through this neighborhood, gives a clue to what the passion, the treasure of their owners might be.
We humans are like that. We invest a part of ourselves in projects, hobbies, and other activities as expressions of who we are and what is important to us. We like to gather little treasures during our time here on earth. Each person does so a little differently, but most of us spend a fair amount of time and energy acquiring and caring for things we like. We do this, even though we realize that these possessions will not last forever, in some cases they might only last a short time.
In today's Gospel, Jesus compares the kingdom of God to a hidden treasure buried in a field. In this lesson, Jesus shows us that only the one who is wise realizes how precious this treasure really is. To the one who has knowledge, to the one who appreciates the greatness of this divine gift, well, this person is willing to give up everything else in order to secure it. Jesus continues with another parable, comparing the kingdom of God to a pearl of incredible value. Once again, the person who discovers it, a person possessing wisdom and understanding, does everything in their power to make sure that this pearl becomes theirs no matter what the cost. The point of Jesus’ teaching is clear: the good news of the gospel is that treasure, that pearl of great price. In fact there is nothing in heaven or on earth, that has greater value. Those who are wise and blessed with understanding from God will realize that they should spare no cost in making this good news their own.
Of course this sounds easy enough; why wouldn't anyone want to acquire this treasure Jesus talks about? The reason is simple; gaining possession of the kingdom of heaven is possible for everyone but it comes at a great cost. We cannot be devoted to this mission while still being immersed in our desires for earthly treasure. In order to obtain the pearl of great price, our full passion, our greatest treasure must be following God and keeping his Commandments.
Now does this mean that we cannot have beautiful lawns, nice houses, fun cars, or interesting collectibles? Not necessarily, unless these things are pulling us away from what is truly important. Perhaps we can look to our first reading for wisdom and guidance. King Solomon was a man who was incredibly blessed by God. He ruled a powerful, massive kingdom inherited from his father, King David. Both he and his realm were prosperous, rich, and wanting for nothing. God comes to him in a dream and tells him to ask for anything and he will give it. Imagine if you were in that situation! What would you ask for? Would you even know? Or would you have so many competing desires, that God's offer would leave you speechless and conflicted?
This is certainly not the case with Solomon. Immediately he knows what to ask for. He does not ask for more riches, or power, or pleasure, or a long life. The one thing he does ask for is godly wisdom. In other words, he wants God to bless him with the ability to know how to use the many blessings he has already received. This really is the most perfect thing to ask for. If Solomon has wisdom, he will know exactly how to use the blessings of his life in a way that benefits him, his people, and gives glory to God.
As we listen to these readings today, we recognize that we too are people richly blessed. We have so many things to be grateful for, yet how often we focus on the things we don’t have. If we want to be happy, both in this life and for eternity, we must pray for the wisdom of God to permeate our lives. This divine wisdom will teach us how to live each and every day. It will show us what is important and what we need to let go of. It will guide us in using properly the material blessings we have, each in the measure God has decided.
The hidden treasure of the kingdom of heaven is right before us in our Catholic faith. This treasure is priceless with the riches found in the Scriptures, the Sacraments, and the Tradition of the Church. The pearl of great price is the Eucharist, where Christ, without any blemish of sin or any other imperfection, becomes our spiritual food and drink. Christ advises to “sell” whatever we have in order to obtain these things for ourselves. In other words, we must be willing to let go of anything and everything in our lives that might keep us from following Christ and growing in holiness. Only an understanding heart, filled with the wisdom of Solomon, will know how to do these things.
So let us ask God constantly for an understanding heart, just as King Solomon did in our first reading. May you and I look for that priceless treasure, which is the kingdom of God, each and every day of our lives. And let us not be afraid to let go of whatever we have, whether it is material, spiritual, or psychological, that might keep us from obtaining that priceless spiritual treasure. For in the kingdom of heaven we will obtain real power, authentic riches, and lasting happiness and we will rejoice in them for all eternity.
