Matthew 13:44-46

Jeremiah 15:10, 16-21

Psalm 59:2-3, 4, 10-11, 17, 18

Matthew 13:44-46

Jesus said to his disciples:

"The Kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field,

which a person finds and hides again,

and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

Again, the Kingdom of heaven 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."

Opening Prayer: Lord God, you sent your Son to seek out the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the fine pearl. I am all three of these. I am the lost sheep who sometimes wanders from the fold. I am the coin lost within your house. I am a pearl of great price who has been found and redeemed by your Son.

Encountering the Word of God

1. Hidden Treasure and Fine Pearls: In his parables in Matthew 13, Jesus compares the Kingdom of Heaven to seven different things and twice explains the comparisons to his disciples. He explains that the seed can represent either the word of the kingdom sown in people’s hearts or the children of the kingdom. A mustard seed becoming a great shrub represents the supernatural growth of the kingdom throughout history. Leaven in the dough emphasizes how the kingdom will transform society. Today, Jesus uses two more comparisons. First, the Kingdom of Heaven is compared by Jesus to a treasure hidden in a field. Now, most of Jesus’ parables have a twist in them. In the Parable of the Sower, the sower seems to be careless and yet his work yields an abundant yield. The twist in the Parable of the Hidden Treasure is that the man finds the treasure and leaves it in the field, sells everything he has, and buys the field, instead of just taking the hidden treasure out of the field. This alludes to the fact that we cannot be attached to the things of this passing world and to the kingdom of heaven at the same time. Possessing the kingdom in this world is worth more than possessing earthly wealth. In the second parable, the Kingdom of Heaven is compared to a merchant in search of fine pearls. Notice, in contrast to the previous parable, that the kingdom is identified with the merchant who seeks and not the fine pearl. The parable, then, can be interpreted in the following way: Christ is the merchant who is searching for us, who are likened to fine pearls. Jesus gives up everything – he gives his entire life – to purchase our redemption. Through his sorrowful passion, Jesus redeems us, his brothers and sisters, from sin and death and brings us into the freedom of the New Covenant. Do I see Jesus searching for me as a fine pearl and giving up everything for my sake? Am I grateful for this?

2. Jeremiah: The First Reading is taken from the second of Jeremiah’s four confessions to the Lord (see 11:18-12:6; 15:10-21; 17:17-18; 18:19-23). “The prayer begins with lament and complaint about his trials (15:10-11), continues with a plea for vindication (15:15), and ends with divine words of reassurance (15:20-21)” (Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: Jeremiah, Lamentations, Baruch, 44). Jeremiah begins his confession with a cry of woe and anguish. When a prophet pronounces “woe” this is a warning that God’s judgment is about to fall on sinful cities or nations. By pronouncing “woe,” the prophet denounces evildoing and makes an appeal for repentance. He is telling the people that they are on the foolish path that leads to the curse of death and not on the wise path that leads to the blessing of life. Here, Jeremiah wrestles with discouragement as he faces opposition, isolation, and the rejection of his message. Jeremiah remembers his prophetic calling, the day when God put divine words into his mouth (Jeremiah 1:9). The First Reading ends with Jeremiah seemingly wanting to abandon his mission but also with him being recommissioned as God’s prophet to Jerusalem and Judah. Have I given in to the temptation to despair as I carry out my mission in life? How can I be restored to hope?

3. The Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius of Loyola: St. Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556) is well known for his Spiritual Exercises (published in 1548). The Exercises are an invitation to meditate on and discern what is most important in life. The Exercises help us see created things as relative and not absolute. They are means and not ends in themselves. They should be used in the measure they help us in our relationships with God and others. Ignatius invites us to contemplate life as a battle. We are asked: Who’s side are you on? Are you rallying under the standard of the devil? Or will you rally under the standard of Christ? As we contemplate the life, passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus, we are encouraged to conform our lives to that of our king, Jesus Christ. Right now, in this moment, which side am I on? What kind of spiritual battles am I engaged in?

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, thank you for finding me and selling everything to redeem me. I will strive to choose you every day of my life. I know you are a good shepherd and a good general and that your strategy will win the ultimate battle of life. Empower me with your Spirit to fight the good fight and finish the race!

Living the Word of God: Do I see my brothers and sisters, those around me, as pearls of great price? Do I treat them with dignity and respect? Am I tempted to treat others as things to be used for my own pleasure or gain? How can I improve here?