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- The parables of the treasure
and of the pearl
Mathew 13, 44-47
The Kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in
a field and found by a man: he hides it again, and full of joy,
he sells all his belongings to buy this field. Again the kingdom
of heaven is like a merchant man seeking for good pearls. When
he had found one pearl of great value, he then sold all that
he had to buy it.
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Often comments of these parables insist on the necessary renouncement
to chose the kingdom of heaven. One has to sell, to abandon his
wealth to reach to the kingdom. |
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- Wealth is even presented as an obstacle to enter into
the kingdom. This is only one aspect of the parable that could
repulse many. On the contrary we could notice the joy and the
eagerness of these two people in purchase of the thing of a greater
value than what they sell without regret. In fact they made the
balance, if they get rid of all they owned, it is because they
are largely reimbursed. It is their interest that governs their
attitude. It is far from a disinterested renunciation.
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To come to such a balance sheet, we have to know the value
of the things. These two men searched and found. |
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- The kingdom of heaven is not given without research, without
the desire to have more, without passion for it. There is a kind
of ambition already there in us. In fact if the treasure in the
field has been "discovered", it is because it was there
since a long time without us knowing it, the same thing for the
precious pearl. It is an invitation to find out such a precious
pearl in our life. Where I am living, there is a treasure and
I have no idea of it. As soon as it is recognized as a treasure
or a pearl of value, nothing else can compare to it. No sacrifice
is necessary to approach it but only the desire that it produces.
No renunciation but a huge joy that transforms every thing. This
kingdom, described by Jesus only with parables because it is
difficult to define, becomes immensely desirable.
Beside its interest, there is in the choice to acquire the discovered
fortune, a little bit of craziness', an extravagance of collector
in front of a rare piece, a frenzy of gold hunter. We have to
see in these two stories how these men hurry to make the necessary
arrangements to obtain what they wish. Maybe it is the achievement
of the goal of their life, towards the most and the best that
is happening. An opportunity that cannot be missed.
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The kingdom is not given though mortification neither through
asceticism but through jubilation and completeness, now and not
later. |
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- We have to resist making Christianity a religion of sadness
and sacrifice to reach happiness. It is in a passionate search
and the discovery of what is the only true good that the kingdom
is given with fullness.
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