"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind; when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but threw out the bad. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. "Have you understood all this?" They answered, "Yes." And he said to them, "Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old."

Introductory Prayer: Lord Jesus, once again I come before to listen to you and to apply your words to my life. I open my heart to you as I begin this prayer. I pray for an increase in my soul of the great gifts of faith, hope, and love so that I trust in you more, so that I place my hope only in an eternity spent with you, and so that I love others with a heart like yours.

Petition: Lord Jesus, help me to desire to belong entirely to you and to understand that you desire to belong entirely to me.

1. Possessing God. Possessing God does not mean having power over him against his will. Rather, it is the certainty that we belong to him, that we love and are loved and want nothing more than him.

There are two examples neatly wrapped in this compact gospel passage. The first compares the Kingdom of God to a treasure lost in a field that someone stumbled upon. Such a discovery would be welcome because it would solve all our financial woes and take care of lifes future comforts. If you discover a treasure like that you cant help but want it. Few would find a box full of gold and other precious things uninteresting. The one finding it doesnt hesitate, he sells everything he has and buys that field so that it belongs to him. The box of treasure is so valuable that it is well worth his while to invest everything else he has in order to have it. There is no comparison between the price and what he is getting for it.

It is good to remember that when Jesus is speaking of the Kingdom, he knows what he is talking about. His comparisons reflect a reality and not a subjective opinion. Jesus knows what his Father has prepared for us and he tells us no matter what we have in this life it is worth giving up for the Kingdom, for there is nothing that can compare to it.

2. Belonging to God. The pearl merchant has a similar experience. He finds the elusive pearl, the one he has been searching for all his life, the one that is worth more than his whole collection, so he sells the lot in order to buy the one pearl and have it for himself. The pearl is not only valuable, it is beautiful.

With these examples Jesus is applying to the realm of the spirit the common-sense criteria we follow in daily life with material things. He doesnt want the sons of this world to be more prudent than the sons of light. To be his follower we must be thinking, reflecting people. He is also pointing out that the sacrifice that Christian living entails is eminently positive, it is sacrifice more for something than against something. It is this purpose that makes the necessary Christian sacrifice a joyful and hopeful thing in its essence.  

3. Loving God. If we can say that God belongs to us, it is however more accurate to say that we belong to him. In the language of Gods love for us, he is always the first to speak and our response to him always comes second. But our relationship with God, loving God takes conscious effort. We cannot love what we dont know, and we have to dig up the field in prayer before we find the treasure, before God takes his rightful place in our lives and we appreciate him for whom he is. We can only find the pearl if we set out looking for it. Too often we want the answer to our questions, and security in our lives and decisions, without being prepared to do the necessary work. And that is a pity. The treasure and pearl are well worth all we put into seeking them. At times we dream great dreams of the future, but neglecting the duty of the moment. Our present duties are the field that we have to work in, where the treasure lies buried.

Conversation: Help me to know you, my Father, as Jesus knew you. Only in this way will my difficulties make sense and have a value, only in this way will my struggles be full of light. Help me to discover the treasure that lies hidden in the everyday living of my Christian vocation, and the beautiful pearl that is the daily fidelity to your will. 

Questionnaire:

1. How do I show God that I value him and recognize his infinite goodness?

2. Is my Christian life still focused very much on the sacrifice rather than on the goal, which is so beautiful and worthwhile?

3. Do I accept that God truly loves it when I love him? How can I love him in the way he wants to be loved?