One of my wife's favorite TV shows is something called Antique Roadshow. I bet many of you have seen it. These antique specialists come to town with TV crew in tow and invite folks to drag out those family treasures and assorted stuff accumulated over the years for a look see. I'm sure they look through a lot of junk but thanks to some great editing and a lot of patience, viewers of the show always see the amazing value of these treasures. In some instances, the unsuspecting owner finds out that they possess a treasure of great price.
Maybe some of us have had a similar experience. We find a painting or an old coin or some antique and we find out later that they really have some value. Of course just having things handed down from past generations within our family is enough for us to deem them a treasure.
As people of faith, what do we treasure? What do we value? How much are we willing to do or give to keep our treasure?
Today's Gospel brings us to the end of the 13th chapter of Matthew and his teachings in parables. In reading the shorter Gospel our focus is on the treasure in the field and the pearl of great price. Upon finding both of these treasures the person in the field and the merchant are willing to sell all that they have; to give up everything already in their possession to gain the greater value of that treasure in the field and the pearl of great price.
This first parable of finding the treasure in the field represents finding the treasure of the kingdom of God. Once gaining the right understanding of finding the treasures of God's kingdom, which offers eternal life, over the treasures of this life, which surely fades and passes away, will we sacrifice everything to gain the greater value? Jesus asks us to do so!
The parable of the pearl of great price is much the same as the treasure in the field. The merchant too can be compared to any of us who, understanding the value of God's kingdom, will do all that is necessary to always possess it. Will we? Jesus asks us to do so!
The challenge of these parables for us today is the opportunity to reflect on our own comittment to hanging on to the value of God's kingdom. Have we made that decision of faith that yes, we prefer the Kingdom of God to the distractions and allurements of this world? If so, have we sold all that we have; have we abandoned those things that prevent us from giving completely and fully to God? Does my life reflect one whose treasures align with the treasures of the Kingdom?
In the week ahead can we pray and reflect daily on these final few verses from Matthew 13. Use these Scriptures as a prayer; an examination of conscience if you will, on those things we possess that both lead us to God's kingdom and those things that may hold us back. And in this prayer, ask God to show us more keenly those things that He has given us that are truly treasure: our faith and love of Him, the family treasures and friends treasures He has placed in our lives. The many treasures we take for granted and the treasures that, at first blush, don't seem like treasures at all.
You know maybe the Antiques Roadshow will pass through town sometime soon and something you have found, something in your possession will be deemed of great value. But we all have already found that treasure in a field, that pearl of great price: it is our love of Jesus and the Kingdom of God; and that truly is priceless!
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