Readings:
1 Kings 3:5,7-12; Romans 8:28-30; Matthew 13:44-52
Where
I fall is where I find Gold
1.
A number of years ago, a geologist named Dr. John
T. Williamson was doing some work in the country of Tanzania. One day, he found
himself driving in a deserted area, slipping and sliding along a rain-soaked
road. Suddenly his four-wheel drive vehicle sank up to its axles in the mud and
got stuck. Pulling out his shovel, Dr. Williamson began the unpleasant task of
digging out of a mud hole. He had been at it for a while when his shovel
uncovered something strange. It was pink-like stone of some sort. Being a geologist
and naturally curious about rock formations, he picked it up and wiped away the
mud. The more mud he recovered, the more excited he became, and could hardly
believe what he saw. When the stone was finally clean, Dr. Williamson was
beside himself with joy. He had discovered a diamond. Now, any
diamond at all would be a surprise in that situation; but Dr. Williamson found
what became known as the famous pink diamond of Tanzania. That
stone today sits in the royal scepter of Great Britain, and Dr. Williamson is
famous around the world for his find – as accidental as it may have been.
2. This story illustrates
the point Jesus raised in today’s Gospel. He likened the kingdom of heaven to a
treasure buried in a field or a pearl of great price, which a person finds and
hides again, and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
These parables were perfectly natural and easily understood by the people in
Palestine in the days of Jesus, and even by many people in the rural areas of
the world. In those days there were banks, but not banks for ordinary people.
Ordinary people would rather use the ground as the safest place to keep their
most cherished belongings. Recall the parable of the talent in Matthew 25:25.
The man who received one talent buried it in the ground and later brought it
out to the master when asked for it. It was a common practice for people to
hide their valuables in the ground, before they took to flight during war, in
the hope that the day would come when they could return and regain them. It
was, therefore, easy for someone to stumble on a buried treasure in the field
or find a pearl of great price buried in the field. A merchant would hide the
pearl and sold all he had to buy it.
3. We live in a world full
of wants, needs, desires and undue expectations. We are never satisfied with
what we have, and so, we are in search of something better. We want a better
house, a better car, a comfortable life and the best for our children. Nothing
seems to quench our desire for more. No matter what we own, it is never enough,
so, we pray for more – the more the merrier, seems to be our
slogan. If we do not get what we need on our own, we take it to the Lord in
prayer and ask for divine intervention. In the first reading we see that
Solomon also appealed to the Lord for help. Solomon has just succeeded
his father, David, as king of Israel. To begin his reign, Solomon prayed for an
understanding heart, so that he could reign well. Of all that Solomon could
have asked for, he chose to pray for wisdom. With the wisdom that comes from
God, he will lead the people according to God’s heart. God was pleased with his
request, “Because you have asked for this – not for a long life for
yourself, nor for riches, nor for the life of your enemies, but for
understanding so that you may know what is right – I do as you requested. In
addition, I give you what you have not asked for, such riches and glory that
among kings there is not your like.” (1 Kings 3:11-13).
4. What do we pray for? It
is important to pray for the right intention at the right time. Sometimes we
pray for too many intentions at the same time. We seem to forget that God
is our father who knows our every need. He will provide for us whether we ask
for it or not. Jesus even tells us what to ask for in prayer. “If you
then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much
more will the Father in heaven give the holy Spirit to those who ask him?”
(Lk. 11:13). He tells us how to pray: “In praying, do not babble like the
pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words. Your
Father knows what you need before you ask him.” (Matt. 6:7-8). After
all, “All things work for good for those who love God, who are called
according to his purpose.” (Rom. 8:28). St. Paul reminds us that “The
Spirit comes to the aid of our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we
ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes with inexpressible groanings.”
Our prayer should be well thought out and our intentions, few. We should also
think of what to do if our prayers are answered. Can we handle all the things
we ask for? Solomon did not ask for himself but for others and for the
glory of God. The gift of wisdom bestowed on him was to help him
continue with the task of governance, to be an effective and good leader. He
was enabled to rule wisely and to establish a kingdom of love, justice and
peace. What do we do with our gifts and blessings? Do we use them for the glory
of God and for the good of our brothers and sisters?
5. What we need in life is
simple; to be happy, to be at peace with God and others, to do right, to
love justice and to walk humbly before God. We should seek the
revelation of the truth, the knowledge of what is good and abhor evil in all
its ramifications. We must work earnestly towards our life with God in his
kingdom, where we hope, one day, to behold his beatific vision. This is
the hidden treasure. This is our pearl of great price. Until we find these
treasures our hearts will continue to be empty and our needs will never be
satisfied. How do we find these treasures? We were given the tools on
the day of Baptism. We were clothed with white garment, given lighted candle as
our guide and the word of God as our shield. We must be Christians in
word and deed. It is by going about our normal business that we find the
treasure; it is when we trip and fall while doing our work that we find the
gold of eternal life. The treasure is found by sheer luck. The one who
finds it sells all that he has to purchase the field where it is buried. Symbolically,
this implies that becoming a member of the kingdom of heaven is a sheer gift of
the Lord. He decides who will receive the treasure. The treasure is not
given for an individual’s benefit. The recipient has to share it with
others so that the kingdom can grow. It is the same with the pearl of
great price. The one who finds it goes and sells all he has to purchase it. The
kingdom of God is not a mere substitute for something else, it is the finest
possession that gives life and it is worth spending and selling all that one
has to purchase it. It is the real possession that will give us eternal life,
joy and peace.
6. Finally, these parables
describe different ways in which people find the kingdom. By chance, by
diligent search and by careful discernment. No matter which way one finds it,
what is important and necessary is the wisdom to recognize the surpassing worth
of the kingdom and be part of it. Let us pray that we may find the one treasure
that will assure our eternal happiness. May the Eucharist we celebrate, our
daily prayer, our sacrifices and our witnessing to the gospel, direct us to
find the hidden treasure in our world. May we know how to use of the things of
this world so as to find our way to our eternal Father in heaven. Amen
Rev.
Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP
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