Jesus is an invaluable treasure!

Matthew 13:44-46

Jesus said to the crowds, ‘The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field which someone has found; he hides it again, goes off happy, sells everything he owns and buys the field.

  

‘Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls; when he finds one of great value he goes and sells everything he owns and buys it.’

Food for thought!

The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden; the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking / searching. What is common in these two parables? It is that the kingdom of heaven is a hidden treasure that must be looked for; that must be sought. 

Another key to understanding these two parables is that the kingdom of heaven is so good that whoever finds it willingly sells EVERYTHING else to acquire it. What is this kingdom of heaven that is so good that all the rest is nothing compared to it? 

St. Paul answered this question in the letter to the Philippians 3:7-8

But all these things that I once thought very worthwhile — now I’ve thrown them all away so that I can put my trust and hope in Christ alone. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the priceless gain of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I have put aside all else, counting it worth less than nothing, in order that I can have Christ.

Jesus himself put it this way just yesterday: "Martha, dear Martha, you're fussing far too much and getting yourself worked up over nothing. One thing only is essential, and Mary has chosen it--it's the main course, and won't be taken from her." (Luke 10:41-42).

In other words, the kingdom of heaven is Jesus, himself. And Jesus has no price tag; he is invaluable because he exceeds all things and everything. Knowing Jesus is more valuable than anything else in this life! If you have all things and miss Jesus, you have lost everything. We can have everything, but without Jesus, we have absolutely nothing. Having Jesus is having it all there is to have.

(Please, read again today's gospel reading, substituting the words "kingdom of heaven" with "Jesus").