17th Sunday of Ordinary Time (A)

 

Seventeenth Sunday of Ordinary Time (A) [Mt 13:44-52]

30.07.2023

Parables of the Hidden Treasure, Precious Pearl and the Dragnet

Readings: (1) 1 Kings 3:5.7-12 (2) Rom 8:28-30

1.  Theme in brief:

Preciousness of God’s Kingdom and its cost

2.  Focus Statement:  

If we consider the Kingdom of God so valuable we should be willing to pay the price of painful sacrifices in order to possess it and experience its joy.     

3.  Explanation of the text

The Parables of the Treasure and Pearl illustrate the following points: (1) Priceless value or worth of the Kingdom of God which is compared to a hidden treasure or a precious pearl; (2) the zeal or enthusiasm and commitment of the farm-worker who suddenly discovers the hidden treasure and the merchant who goes in search of a priceless pearl at a great cost; (3) the tremendous sacrifice made by both of them for their ‘cause’; (4) and the overwhelming joy that results in such an action. The Kingdom of God is so valuable that any sacrifice and drastic action is worth taking in order to gain it. It costs true and committed disciples everything, even those things that are so dear to them. They need to “sell all” (13:44, 45) to “get all.” The point is, if the disciples consider the Kingdom so valuable, they must pursue it with single-minded devotion at any cost or be willing to give up anything that is needed to possess it.

The main character of the parable of the Hidden Treasure (13:44) seems to be a worker working in a landowner’s farm. While digging or ploughing in that farm he discovers a treasure hidden (buried) by somebody many years ago in a container during an emergency (like war), with the hope of retrieving it later on. In ancient times, some people would bury their treasures without revealing this secret to anybody. Later if they died in a war, somebody else would discover it by chance. Exactly, this is what must have happened in this case. A worker in somebody else’s field suddenly stumbles upon it by chance. Not only he recognizes the true worth of this treasure but takes a prompt and shrewd action to hide it and buy that field from the owner. He collects a good sum of money to buy that field by joyfully selling everything he has (13:44). He knows very well that the sacrifices he makes are negligible in comparison to the value of what he is going to get.

Though similar to the first one, the second parable of the Precious Pearl (13:45-46) has a striking difference. Here the merchant deliberately goes in search of fine pearls probably to distant places. Whereas in the first parable the treasure is found accidentally by the worker, in the second one, the pearl is acquired by the merchant after a diligent search. Jesus wants to drive home this lesson: The joy and bliss of the Kingdom is the result of a strenuous search by those who are willing to pay the price or make tremendous sacrifices. Total commitment given to the cause of God’s Kingdom is worth the trouble because of the immense joy it brings. Considering the great value of the treasure and pearl, any half measures or half-hearted efforts will not do. That will deprive them of the joy of possessing a priceless treasure and a precious pearl.

The third parable of the Dragnet is similar to the previous parable of the Wheat and the Weeds (13:24-30). The Kingdom is a jumble or mixture of “good and bad fish,” that is, saints and sinners, the righteous and the evil (13:48).  It illustrates the disciples’ responsibility to bring anybody – good or bad – into the Kingdom without any discrimination. They should leave the work of sorting out the ‘good fish’ from the bad to God who alone can judge at the end of the age (13:49), that is, at the final judgement. In the meantime they must exhibit patience and tolerance towards “the bad fish,” that is, the evil ones.

4.  Application to life              

The Kingdom of God is Jesus’ free offer of salvation or liberation to sinners. What a great joy will be theirs when they accept his offer of salvation with total surrender and self-sacrifice. It is hidden from the “wise and the intelligent” (Mt 11:25) who think they know everything and are perfectly ok. In this parable Jesus tells us how much the Kingdom of God is worth. Only those who consider this offer very precious and valuable will be willing to sacrifice everything to attain it. Those who humbly recognize its true value, gradually recognize their need for conversion from the bondage of evil and brokenness. They are the ones who hide this treasure deeply in their hearts and are willing to sacrifice personal pleasures in order to experience inner joy. In fact, Jesus Christ himself is a Pearl of great price. What a joy is ours when we are possessed by him!

Similarly, the Word of God is also like a hidden treasure. One has to dig not on surface level but deeply into it in order to discover a hidden treasure (deeper meaning) in it. Those who search the Scriptures in faith, find a valuable treasure. Like Simon Peter they acclaim: “Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life” (Jn 6:68). Such people find words that sustain divine or supernatural life infused into them at baptism. From God’s Word we come to know that in order to remain faithful to Christ and his teachings, sometimes we have to make a drastic decision. Naturally, we shall take such a drastic step only if we are conscious of its worth. Sometimes we have to make some painful sacrifices for not compromising with the standards of the world and to stick to the Kingdom-values. Some honest officers in civil administration have sacrificed their promotion, faced frequent transfers to difficult posts or places, have gone through courts cases instituted against them, and have been even fired from their posts just for standing firm on certain values and principles in public life which they consider precious to them or to their country.

The Kingdom of God also means God’s dominion/ authority/ rule over our lives. What a joy to be totally ruled by God and his values of love, peace and justice! To attain this joy, any sacrifice is worth making. It is not enough if we just learn from catechism that God alone rules over us. We must humbly yield to God’s rule over us or submit our entire lives to his care and power. If we submit our lives to material things and worldly power, we shall rarely think of making any painful sacrifices for a cause. If we really consider total submission to God and his values as our real treasure and pearl, as the farm-worker and the merchant did, we need to sacrifice our selfish and personal agendas. If we go on doing our own will, instead of seeking God’s, how can we experience his total love (dominion) over us? As we say in the “Our Father,” his Kingdom comes only when we do his will on earth as it is in heaven. When we are unwilling to sacrifice our selfish desires, only our kingdom may come, not his.  When his Kingdom really comes, what a joy!

First things first. According to Jesus, only the Kingdom of God is absolute; everything else is relative. The question is whether we give first priority to the pursuit of heavenly treasures such as genuine love, holiness, truth, justice, peace, etc., or are in pursuit of only earthly wealth. If we consider these heavenly values above all earthly treasure, we will be willing to sacrifice all the lower wealth – our own personal convenience, profit, agenda, pleasures and selfish desires – for this higher wealth. Unless we are willing to take the risk of being criticized, disliked and even hated by those who do not consider these values as important (precious), we shall not gain the joy of God’s Kingdom. When we are confronted with values that are contrary to God’s Kingdom we have a choice to make: even after knowing its value either to make sacrifices to possess it, or to go back to our old ways and risk nothing. But the slogan Jesus advocates is: Risk everything and gain everything for eternity.

Right from the time of those fishermen (i.e. the first disciples of Christ) who left their family ties, boats, nets and occupation to pursue the values of God’s Kingdom, and from the time of so many saints and missionaries who sacrificed things so dear to them, to modern days, we find some persons who leave their highly paid jobs to work for justice, equality and freedom or dedicate their lives in social or religious service. If you have a cause to live for and die for in life, if you have a personal dream to be realized, if you are highly and internally motivated to dedicate your life for that cause, you will do your best and go to any extent to realize it. Then you will be fired with enthusiasm and will be able to bear any hardship. Doing your dream gives you tremendous joy. As Jesus has promised, no power on earth can take away that joy from you (Jn 16:22). It is rather sad to notice such a cause or fire missing from quite many young people coming from good Christian families. When I ask them about the aim or purpose of their life, many of them say: studying hard, first class result, a good job, a decent and honourable settlement in life is their aim. Though these things are very necessary for life, many young people do not seem to have any other cause beyond their own selves – say, for their society, country and the Church. It seems they have not discovered a treasure or a pearl beyond their boundaries! Or, have we as parents, teachers, leaders and spiritual guides failed to sell them this dream……? Within ourselves, how strong is Jesus’ dream of establishing God’s values in our human society?

The first two parables possess these elements: searching, finding, selling all in order to possess something of great value and joyfully celebrating. We are all seekers of a lasting joy or happiness. True believers find it only in God and his Kingdom. Today’s gospel makes us realize that this ‘field’ and ‘pearl’ do not come to us automatically just because we believe,  or were born in a good Christian family, or have joined religious life/ priesthood. Both come with risk and sacrifice. This precious pearl must be bought at a great ‘price’ (that is, by making painful sacrifices). Only those who are willing to pay the price by making joyful sacrifice of self-interest, and are committed to cultivate these values by all means, can attain this bliss. This treasure will be hidden from others who are unwilling to take a prompt and shrewd action which may involve painful sacrifices and a firm commitment. Is it not true many of us want to follow a ‘sweet Jesus’ and attend novenas for personal favours without feeling the pinch of making painful sacrifices when we have to uphold the values of God’s Kingdom?

5.  Response to God's Word

Do we consider God’s Kingdom as our greatest treasure, and value it above all other possessions in the world? Do we search for it in the Scriptures and dig into it deep enough to find out its hidden value? Where are our true treasure and pearl? To what do we give first priority in our family and community? Do we regard modern gadgets, glamour of latest goods in the market and ornaments as our real treasures? What are the sacrifices we have to make for not compromising with the standards of the world? Are we willing to part with our selfish and personal agendas or desires in order to experience the joy of acquiring God’s field and pearl? Do we make these sacrifices joyfully or grudgingly?

6.  A prayer

Gracious Lord, grant that we may recognize the true value of your Kingdom. Grant that we may be willing to make some painful sacrifices for not compromising with the standards of the world and upholding yours. Give us the courage to take the risk of being criticized, disliked and even hated by those who do not consider these values as precious. We submit ourselves humbly to your loving rule and to do your will on earth. By doing so, may we find such a great joy that no one will be able to take it away. Amen.