Pearl
Flipping the parable
Dear Friend, Family Member, Neighbor,
You know what it’s like when you care about something so much that it has transformed your life, and you just can’t contain yourself…
That’s what we describe as, ‘speaking from the heart.’
I imagine Jesus this way as he spoke the parable about ‘the pearl of great price.’
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. 1
My pastor often likes to point out:
We often read the parables from our own perspective.
Jesus’ parables speak to us not just about ourselves, but even moreso about God.
This week, he has me asking: “Have you ever thought of yourself as the pearl of great price?”
Imagine Jesus telling his disciples what was on his heart, about his Kingdom…
God has surrendered everything we perceive as ‘valuable’—his glory by becoming Man, his wealth by living like a beggar, and his power by dying an apparently pitiful death—just to earn the chance to be with us forever.
The merchant in his parable acts according to some level of insanity. Who would sell literally everything they had — clothing, livestock, shelter, food, etc. — after glimpsing a single jewel, which has no objective purpose except to be treasured and beautiful, in hopes that by the time he came back after such a foolish mission, this jewel would still be available to purchase?
Jesus was thinking of you and of me as he spoke from his Heart.
God doesn’t want you because he can manipulate you. God doesn’t give his commands so that we minions can serve some sort of egomaniacal agenda.
God does think the world of you. God knows that you are inspiringly beautiful. God loves you… as Fred Rogers said, “by just you’re being you.”
Brothers and sisters:
We know that all things work for good for those who love God,
who are called according to his purpose.2
His purpose is love and, as Jesus stated, “fullness of life.”3
That’s what it’s ALL about. That’s what we try to wrap our limited, human minds around, in a world so obsessed with the cost of everything that it treats everything and everyone as a means to selfish ends.
It seems to me; when all we see is the cost, all God sees is the pearl.
Jesus, please help me to see the pearl, especially when I am heavy and weighed down by the cost.
On the journey with you,
Angela
Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 13:44-46
Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans 8:28
Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 10:10
I love this. and it means something that he buys the whole field. that would mean he takes d his own the whole context of our life and conditions, warts an all.
thank you!
Yes, the visiting priest yesterday also preached that we are the hidden treasure, the pearl of great value, that the Lord gives up everything to be with us! Thank you for carrying this forward. 🌹🥰🤗🙏🏼