JOY OF DISCOVERY

Matthew 13:44

“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.”

I still remember those days when a lot of treasure hunters came out looking for the Yamashita treasures. They would really buy out a property and dedicate their whole life digging for the “treasures”. However, years after, the treasure is still “out there”. No one has really proven that the Yamashita treasures ever existed. They have searched for something that is based on hearsays and treasure maps (fake, maybe, but we don’t know). And they ended up with nothing for they put their belief in something that doesn’t really exist in the first place.

Today’s gospel focus on the how finding the Kingdom of God could give anyone so much joy, that he would forego of his every possession just to have it. This joy of discovery reveals two essential points: first, the kingdom of God is not visible to the human eye, and, second, it is present in the midst of men. It might seem impossible to find a kingdom that cannot be seen, but with God's help it can be found. Jesus said, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you”. Just like the precious metals and gems of the physical world, many of God’s spiritual treasures lie hidden from human view. To possess them we must dig deep and search – shaping, refining, polishing and finishing.

The parable of the hidden treasure reminds us of what can happen if we treat the free gift of the kingdom as something that would move us to dispose everything that we have and express much in finding God's kingdom in it. But the parable also reminds us that once we have received the kingdom, we must assume the responsibility to share it with others. In sharing the treasure of the kingdom, one increases one's grasp of it. The righteousness which is acceptable before God is found in His kingdom. Discover true and infinite joy – discover Him, discover His Kingdom.

Almighty Father, grant us, the gift of true happiness in You, and the serenity which comes from living close to You. Renew in us the sense of joy, and let the Your eternal spirit dwell in our souls and bodies, filling our every hearts with light and grace through Your love and mercy. Amen +

Lord, I love your commands.