At What Price, The Kingdom of God

I have the privilege of meeting every other week with a Men’s group in the parish. They gather to discuss questions of faith. A prevalent topic of conversation for us is the Kingdom of Heaven. The discussion revolves around what it is and what it will be like. 

The followers of Jesus had similar questions. They began by expecting a Messiah who would lead a great army and defeat all their enemies. 

They got a baby born in a manger, to poor parents, in a small town. So, what would the Kingdom be like? They followed a man who talked about the meek inheriting the earth, turning your cheek when you are slapped, and forgiving seven times seventy times. The Kingdom they might previously have imagined with palaces and servants, jewels and gold, and with power and might were looking less likely. Jesus tries to help them understand in the Kingdom parables.

In today’s Gospel, the Kingdom of God is compared to a treasure in a field and a perfect pearl. In both cases, the finder of the treasure sells all that he has. He purchases the area where the treasure is buried or the exquisite pearl. In the parable, there were three significant steps, finding, selling, and buying.

First, they had to find the treasure. The reading gives us the impression that they were searching for the treasure. It sounds like they were looking for a long time. They didn’t just stumble upon the treasure in the field or the perfect pearl. They were seeking it and working hard to find it.

Then the farmer and the merchant sold everything they had. Sometimes we overlook the importance of this step. Selling is hard. Most of what they had would have been meaningful and necessary. Their possessions were treasures in their own right. It must have been hard to let go of their valuables. Yet they had found something more precious and willingly sold everything.

Finally, they bought the treasure. In the parable, we are told that these seekers sold everything they had. But it doesn’t tell us how much that was. It doesn’t tell us if the pearl and the field cost the same amount. All we know is they sold all they had to possess it and possess it they did.

The word parable comes from the Greek meaning parallel. What then is the similarity in this parable for Jesus’ disciples and for us? When we seek the treasure of the Kingdom of God, what does  Jesus teach through the parable? 

We are compelled to seek God. Finding God and developing a relationship with God can be an arduous task. When we indeed find God, we know we have found the most essential gem. Our faith is the treasure in the field, it is the pearl of great price.

The purchase price of the treasure is the same for us, as it was for the farmer and the merchant in the parable. The price is all that we have. And, selling is hard. To secure our faith in Jesus, our faith in God requires letting go of all that holds us back. 

Sometimes those are the things we treasure. But that is the easy part. The hard part is selling (letting go of): the attitudes we hold, the ego we cherish, our accomplishments, the importance we place on the wealth we have amassed, our need for the approval of others, and even our hearts desire. We must empty ourselves to purchase the treasure of complete faith and trust in God. Selling all for God is hard. And the cost is the same for everyone…it is everything.

Finally, we purchase the field where the treasure is, we buy the pearl of inestimable value. We abandon all else and put all of our eggs in the basket of faith. We cling to our God of unending love. There is no going back once we have found the Kingdom of God, the Kingdom where Love reigns. Then we know without pause or doubt that God’s love and grace are enough. 

In God’s Unending Love,

Gwen