Wednesday, July 30, 2003
17th Week in Ordinary Time

1st Reading: Ex 34:29-35
Gospel: Mt 13:44-46

Jesus said to the crowds, "The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field. The one who finds it buries it again; and so happy is he, that he goes and sells everything he has, in order to buy that field.

"Again the kingdom of heaven is like a trader who is looking for fine pearls. Once he has found a pearl of exceptional quality, he goes away, sells everything he has and buys it."

Commentary

How does one explain people like Mother Teresa, or Francis of Assisi, or the countless men and women, both lay and ordained, who have committed their lives to serving others without seemingly wanting anything in return? It isn't easy doing that. The only explanation one can give is really that which is found in today's gospel reading, namely, that the Mother Teresa's and Francis's of this world are persons who have found their "pearl of great price," and their "treasure hidden in the field." These are individuals who have searched long and hard for that one thing that could give them the greatest joy, the greatest certainty, the most profound peace, and have found it in something that the world will not always look at with understanding and comprehension. But that's precisely the logic of it all-there's none, that is, except for the logic of the human heart which has found it's "one sure thing." Many of us spend our lives searching for it, sadly, many fail to find it, because we tend to look for it in all the wrong places: in money, wealth, power, ambition, popularity, control, and greatness. At times, before we discover that these things are really passing and impermanent, it's already too late. We must look deep inside us and discover in there, our pearl of great price, and our treasure hidden in the field. Otherwise, as St. Augustine once said, "our hearts will remain restless, " that is of course, "until they find their rest" in God.

TOP