As people of faith we are uniquely connected to time. We draw upon events and relationships from over two thousand years as the foundations of our faith and morals, of what we truly treasure, and we hope for a future full of promise in the kingdom already among us, within us yet not totally fulfilled. But how can we stretch back into the distant past, and forward into the unknown future, and yet keep our feet firmly on the ground of today?
These are especially difficult times for people the world over. All of us have been touched by suffering and death in ways we never could have imagined. We all share the horror and can feel the pain, and we all look for moments when the Light of Truth might shine through the current darkness. And it becomes more and more difficult to proclaim the goodness of God and to be witnesses to this great gift of faith.
In the midst of a world where there is so much chatter and so little respectful attention we can lose sight of the fact that Jesus constantly reminds his followers to become active, conscious listeners.
Listening is a skill often unpracticed today. We only need to note current political discourse, TV commentators on current events, and even observe carefully our own family communications to realize that we tend to talk a lot and listen relatively little.
Christians can sometimes speak too casually about "belonging to Christ" or of "following Jesus." But the parables of Jesus warn us that in order to become what we preach we first need to listen. The true disciple of Jesus is one who has listened to his words, digested them and translated them into action.
The parable stories of the treasure in the field and the pearl merchant point to the fact that seeking the Kingdom of God and doing the will of the Father call for personal sacrifice and total commitment. One does not simply add this pearl to a collection or simply purchase one more parcel of land. Everything must be sold in order to buy. An absolute fresh start is to be made. The Gospel cuts into one's life and one must decide. Jesus brings compassion and healing, but he also brings a call to responsibility that is not without its consequences. We are accountable for the gifts that God has given us.
In the light of today’s Gospel message there are some basic questions that we should be asking ourselves:
How do we use the gift of time? How often do we truly listen to God? How often do we truly listen to one another? And finally, the important question focuses on how we are changed by what we believe.
The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field or a pearl of great price. When its great value is recognized, one gladly does all that is necessary to obtain it.
It is time for all of us to dig up the treasure that we may have buried so that we can bring a lighted candle into the common cloud of darkness that we all now seem to share. There has never been a time when we have needed to do this more.
