Surprised by the Kingdom of Heaven
Every few years or so the discovery of lost treasure troves makes the news. As technology has improved it has become more common that gold coins, gemstones and priceless jewels worth millions of dollars are found in sunken ships that sailed the seas hundreds of years ago. Finding lost treasure requires a lot of persistence, technology, research, financial outlay, and luck. In the Gospel, however, Jesus tells us that we don’t need special technology or even a lot of planning and effort to find the Treasure of all treasures.
I remember the day almost 20 years ago when I first heard Jesus’ voice in my heart—not an inspiration, but a quiet voice. I had been assigned a paper on the Gospel of John in the homilies of St. Augustine. As I was reading, one particular line shone out like a treasure and caught my attention. Years of struggling with powerful temptations had deadened my heart to hope that I could ever be good enough for God to love me. Just as Augustine was converted by reading one verse of Scripture, in one sentence I felt that God saw me, just as I was. Then I heard the voice: “It doesn’t matter. It doesn’t matter if you ever fix yourself and become perfect with regard to this temptation. Just keep looking at me, and letting me look at you. If you just allow us to look at each other, continually, trustfully, always, I will take care of it for you.” We all know when we’ve heard a voice, we would give everything to possess this treasure of treasures always.
Isn’t it true, however, that we often find the most precious things in life by accident? We stumble upon them, and they seize our imagination and steal our hearts!
The kingdom of heaven surprised me that day when I heard his voice. The words of the Lord have become a touchstone in my life, a treasure by which I measure all other treasures.
- In this parable, Jesus is telling us five things about the kingdom of heaven:
● the kingdom of heaven is the most valuable of treasures, the treasure of treasures
● the kingdom of heaven is hidden in our midst, we’ll find it in the ordinary places of our life where we often forget to look
● the kingdom of heaven will surprise us as we go about our daily life—it is a gift
● the kingdom of heaven is a treasure so wonderful that the joy of having discovered it makes every sacrifice to possess it well worth it
● the kingdom of heaven costs everything because it radically changes our lives and our loves.
The kingdom of heaven is here, right in our midst, ready to surprise you. If you find it, sell all you have to possess it. You will not be sorry.
— Sr. Kathryn James
Reflection provided by diocesan.com. Reprinted with permission.