Searching For Pearls

Today’s Gospel reads:  “Jesus said to his disciples: ‘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’ (Matthew 13:44-46).”  

For  both the treasure and the pearl, the person and then the merchant find what they seek.
But there’s a big difference.  The person appears to find someone else’s treasure by accident and then hides it later to buy the field from its owner.   Sneaky and dishonest. 

On the other hand, the merchant is searching – actively searching for fine pearls and is rewarded for his persistence by finding one of great price.  He knows what he wants; he finds it; then he sells what he owns to buy it.

Both the treasure and pearl are compared to the Kingdom of heaven.  But I have to disagree with Matthew and wonder if Jesus really made these comparisons.  Perhaps the latter, but not the former. 

The Kingdom of heaven doesn’t come by accident.  We don’t find it by dumb luck.   Our Kingdom comes through our searching with love being the map we follow to find our way to the Father and to the Son - two pearls of great price.

Deacon David Pierce