"The Kingdom of Heaven is like a Treasure Buried in a Field "

Today's Mass Readings

Most of Chapter 13 of the gospel of Matthew is a collection of parables of the Kingdom of God – the parable of the sower, the parable of the weeds, the parable of the mustard seed, the parable of the yeast, and today Jesus preaches the parable of the treasure. This parable is related to another saying in the sixth chapter of Matthew, where Jesus says, “Seek first the Kingdom of God and everything will be yours as well” (Matt 6:33). Let us explore both these messages of Jesus. From the words of Jesus, it is very difficult to assess the precise meaning of the Kingdom of God. Sometimes Jesus speaks of it as being something outside the human person, sometimes inside the human person; sometimes it is spoken of as being already here, other times as something yet to happen. At some times he speaks of himself as being the kingdom of God. However, there is one things that is constant – Jesus speaks of it as the most important thing that his followers could desire. Thus, in today’s gospel reading, the merchant sold all that he had to buy the field that had the treasure of great price (the Kingdom of God). His disciples are to seek the Kingdom of God above all things. In the Our Father, the first petition reads, “Thy Kingdom come…”

How shall we define the Kingdom of God? The Kingdom in anyplace, in heaven or on earth, in the past or the future, in us our outside us where the God’s love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, self-control (Galatians 5: 26) exist. Every disciple of Jesus must seek above all things to make their homes, churches, and indeed wherever they are – the kingdom of God.

In fact, in the first reading, Moses is portrayed as one who understood the meaning of seeking the kingdom of God above all else. He is filled with the presence and the glory of God. In this he found his salvation.

If we are wise the merchant in today’s gospel reading, we will seek above all else the Kingdom of God. This is Jesus’ call to us. We must be at the service of the Kingdom.