Today’s Theme for Prayer – Jesus Calls Me Beyond Myself
How Generous is My Response to the Lord?
When your intellect is concentrated on the love of God you will pay little attention to visible things and will regard even your own body as something alien. St. Maximus the Confessor
More Precious Than Anything: Pursuing Divine Intimacy
Matthew 13:44-46
“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.”
Grace Prayed For
The grace to see the Kingdom of Heaven as the ultimate treasure and to have the courage and desire to surrender all for it, embracing a life lived in loving union with God.
Reflection
We’ve all stumbled upon something unexpected, something that captures our heart and sparks a deep, almost primal joy. Maybe it was a long-lost photo album or a beautifully crafted piece of art. In today’s Gospel passage (Matthew 13:44-46), Jesus uses these very human experiences to illuminate the nature of the Kingdom of Heaven. He paints a picture of a treasure buried in a field and a merchant finding a priceless pearl, moments so filled with joy they propel these individuals to sell everything to possess them.
But what do these parables truly mean for us, here and now? Are they simply stories to admire from afar? Or are they an invitation to embark on a radical and deeply personal journey? I believe it’s the latter. The Kingdom Jesus speaks of isn’t a distant land or a far-off reward; it’s something that is found within each one of us. It is an ever-deepening relationship with the Trinity. The buried treasure, that pearl of great price—they are symbols of God’s love, grace and the profound, transforming presence of the Holy Spirit.
Imagine that person who finds the treasure in the field. The thrill, the heart-pounding excitement that leads them to bury it again in secret, knowing this is the most precious thing they’ve ever seen. Don’t we often have these fleeting moments of awareness of God’s presence within us, moments of sudden joy and peace, moments that feel sacred? These moments are the discovery of the treasure, a glimpse of the Kingdom. Jesus encourages us to follow this person’s lead. We are not meant to just admire the treasure or pearl, but to go and sell everything we have to purchase it. He is calling us to surrender all things that we hold dear, our pride, our comfort zones, and our selfish desires to receive the love of the trinity.
Now, let us turn to the merchant who finds a pearl of great price. This merchant has been searching, longing for something of ultimate value. When they discover the pearl, their heart knows instantly that it surpasses anything they’ve ever seen or imagined. This is our journey, dear friends. We all seek, we all long for deeper meaning, for a connection beyond the material. Each of us is the merchant, and that longing, that ache in our soul, is our longing for God. When we encounter him, it’s not a transaction; it’s an embrace, a homecoming. The selling of all is not about getting rid of things, but it is a release to be received by the Trinity. The pearl of great price is the love of the Trinity freely given and when we receive it, it becomes an unshakeable foundation, a beacon of hope that lights up our lives with eternal significance.
This surrender, this act of “selling all,” isn’t about material possessions alone. It’s about relinquishing control, of letting go of our own limited ideas of happiness and embracing the boundless love that the Trinity offers. It’s about aligning our will with God’s, allowing the Holy Spirit to guide our steps. It is a moment to sit with God and ask him what in your life is getting in the way of your relationship with him. What is the thing that you must “sell off” to fully embrace the love that the trinity has for you?
The Kingdom of Heaven is not just a future promise; it’s a present reality, a gift available to us in this very moment. As you reflect on these parables, ask yourself: What am I holding onto that keeps me from fully embracing the joy and surrender of the Kingdom? Where do I sense a longing for more? And, how can I, like the man in the field and the merchant, move towards the treasure of the trinity today?
Let us not be passive observers of this treasure. Let us be active participants in this love. Through prayer, reflection, and the surrender of our will, may we grow in union with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. May we discover the extraordinary love that is ours when we find our hearts united with the Divine Trinity.
Growing in Intimacy/Union with Jesus
Desire for the Kingdom: The passage fuels a desire to make the Kingdom of Heaven the primary focus of our lives, just like Jesus did, causing us to prioritize our relationship with him above all else.
Understanding Jesus’s Value: It reveals the immeasurable value of Jesus, the “pearl of great price,” showing us that he is worth surrendering everything to obtain.
Personal Invitation: The parables invite us to a personal journey of discovery, leading us into closer communion with the Jesus who makes it possible for us to enter the Kingdom.
Surrender and Trust: It prompts a movement of surrender, trusting in Jesus’s promise and opening our hearts to his guidance, which deepens our dependence and intimacy with him.
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Sharing
Jesus last words on Earth were to his disciples, can be found in Matthew Chap 28 when Jesus told his disciples, “Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”
Jesus calls all of us to share in his redemptive mission here on Earth. I would ask you to share this Scripture reflection with your family, your friends and your acquaintances, and then share it with a couple of individuals that you may may not be comfortable sharing with, keeping in mind always the words of Jesus, And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age
Author was assisted by AI in the drafting of this Post