THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE

July 30, 2025 Wednesday within the 17th week in Ordinary Time Year C Mt 13:44-46 In these two parables, Jesus compares the Kingdom of Heaven to something so valuable that it’s worth giving up everything else to obtain it. The first man stumbles upon a hidden treasure in a field; the second is a merchant who has been searching for fine pearls and finally finds the one of greatest value. Whether by surprise or through long seeking, both men recognize the worth of what they’ve found—and they respond radically: with joy, they sell all they have to possess it. Theologically, these parables teach that the Kingdom of God is not one treasure among many—it is the treasure. It is the reality of life with God, communion with Christ, and eternal joy in His presence. But it also reveals a truth that is both beautiful and demanding: the Kingdom is free, but it will cost us everything. Not in payment, but in priority. We cannot cling to the world and fully embrace the Kingdom. The man and the merchant were not hesitant—they acted decisively. This is the call of discipleship: a joyful surrender for something far greater. What Is Your Treasure? This Gospel challenges us: What is my hidden treasure? What is my pearl? What in my life am I unwilling to let go of, even for the sake of God’s will? It’s not about selling our possessions literally—it’s about selling our attachments, breaking free from false securities, and making God our true joy. When we finally encounter the love of Christ—through prayer, through conversion, through suffering, or through the witness of others—we realize: This is what I’ve been looking for all along. And nothing else compares. Blessings Fr. Jhack