the pearl of great price

although my father did not have a lot of education, he was wise. one example is that he taught me, from a young age, to save money. he told me, “if you put half of that money (from a gift or my paper route) in the bank, you’ll be able to buy a car someday. as a kid, i believed what he told me and often put even more than half of what i received into my savings account from washington mutual bank. and he was right– i was able to buy a car in high school!

giving up things in the present for a future greater good is a motivation for sacrifice. if we do not know what the greater good all things work for good for those who love God,
who are called according to his purpose in the future all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose, we will not sacrifice in the present for it

the gospel at mass today is a continuation of jesus’ teachings on the kingdom of God from matthew 13:

“…the kingdom of (God) is like a merchant
searching for fine pearls.
When he finds a pearl of great price,
he goes and sells all that he has and buys it.”

have we found God’s reign in our lives?

the parable suggests a total sacrifice of what we have for the the reign of God. it points to the ultimate importance of this presence of God in our lives. when we step out in faith and live with things ordered well towards God’s reign, we realize it is well worth it. we can then see the power of love active in our lives and the benefits that come from this providential mystery.

when we do find this “pearl of great price”, we find ourselves: why we were created, the healing we need, what it means to be created anew in the Spirit.

my prayer is that we all may have the wisdom like solomon to see, act and judge well; that we can realize that “all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose” (romans 8); and that this love will sustain us with spiritual gifts — especially peace and joy in our lives– for the transformation of the world.