Parable of the Hidden Treasure

Jesus had just finished explaining to the disciples the meaning of the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares, and these two short parables are a continuance of His discussion of the  “kingdom of heaven.” He expressed truths about the kingdom in three pairs of parables in Matthew 13: the seed and the sower  (vv. 3-23) and the weeds in the field (vv. 24-30); the mustard seed (vv. 31-32) and the leaven (v. 33); and the hidden treasure (v. 44) and the pearl of great price (vv. 45-46).

The similarities of these two short parables make it clear they teach the same lesson—the kingdom of heaven is of inestimable value. Both parables involve a man who sold all he had to possess the kingdom. The treasure and the pearl represent Jesus Christ and the salvation He offers. And while we cannot pay for salvation by selling all our worldly goods, once we have found the prize, we are willing to give up everything to possess it. But what is attained in exchange is so much more valuable that it is comparable to trading an ounce of trash for a ton of diamonds (Philippians 3:7-9).

In both parables, the treasures are hidden, indicating that spiritual truth is missed by many and cannot be found by intelligence or power or worldly wisdom. Matthew 13:11-17 and 1 Corinthians 2:7-8, 14 make it clear that the mysteries of the kingdom are hidden from some who are unable to hear, see, and comprehend these truths. The disobedient reap the natural consequences of their unbelief—spiritual blindness. Those whose eyes are opened by the Spirit do discern spiritual truth, and they, like the men in the parable, understand its great value. Notice that the merchant stopped seeking pearls when he found the pearl of great price. Eternal life, the incorruptible inheritance, and the love of God through Christ constitute the pearl which, once found, makes further searching unnecessary. 

Christ fulfills our greatest needs, satisfies our longings, makes us whole and clean before God, calms and quiets our hearts, and gives us hope for the future. The “great price,” of course, is that which was paid by Christ for our redemption. He emptied Himself of His glory, came to earth in the form of a lowly man and shed His precious blood on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins.

Parable of the Wheat and the Weeds

The parable teaches us that the Kingdom of God is a mixed bag. It is composed of saints and sinners. The Church is not a showcase for saints, but a refuge for sinners. Jesus came, not for the just, but for the sinners. Catholic means universal. The Kingdom is a mixed bag because reality is a mixed bag good and evil are found together. Each one of us is a mixed bag. Yet, God is patient and merciful. He wants everyone to be saved and come to the  knowledge of the truth. There is always the possibility of  conversion, God also wishes to give us a second chance.

If Simon Peter had been uprooted when he denied three times that he even knew Jesus there would be no St. Peter. If Saul had  been uprooted while he was on his way to Damascus to persecute the Christians there would be no St. Paul. If Thomas had been  uprooted when he refused to believe that Jesus was risen there would be no St. Thomas. And what about Augustine, Francis, Ignatius? What about us? If we had been uprooted when we were  sinners this church would be empty.

This leads me to ask - when was the last time a little "pruning" took place in your life through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Consider learning a little more about it and consider celebrating it soon.

Hear Then The Parable Of The Sower

The story is simple. A farmer sows seed in a field:

· Some seed falls on the paths, and the birds quickly eat it.

· Some seed falls where there are rocks, and not much soil. Plants grow quickly, but soon the sun dries them. There is not enough soil, and the plants die.

· Some seed begins to grow in a place where there are too many weeds. The weeds stop the growth of the plants, and the plants die.

· But other seed falls on good ground. So, the plants grow well. The farmer has a harvest from these plants.

The explanation of the story is also simple. Jesus Himself explained it to the disciples. The farmer is like Jesus. The seed that he sows is the seed of the good news about Jesus. The farmer sows the seed in many different places, just as Christians tell God’s good news in many different places. What happens to the seed is different in different places. It is the same with the good news about Jesus. It has a good result in the lives of the people who choose to really hear and live it.

The first seed fell on the path, where there was no soil. Some people hear the good news but give no attention to it at all. This is like the seed on the path. These people do not change their behaviour. These people do not think about other people. They are selfish. They quickly forget about the good news. Some seed falls where there are rocks. It grows quickly, but then it dies. This teaches us that some people listen to the good news. They seem to like what they hear about Jesus. But this does not last. They have a difficult time, or other people laugh at them. Then they have no more interest in Jesus. They never really trusted him.Some seed began to grow among weeds, and the weeds killed it. This teaches us that some people have no time for Jesus. They are selfish, and they want things for themselves. Perhaps they want to be rich, or to be powerful. They worry all the time. They are anxious about their possessions.

Finally we hear in the story about seed on good ground. The good ground is like people who love the Lord. They believe in Jesus and they trust Him. God will bless these people. His Holy Spirit will help them to love other people. They will be able to forgive other people, and to live in peace with them. They will be joyful. This is because God can  change them. He changes the inside of these people, and this changes their behaviour.

This parable can teach us about ourselves. God will bless those people who trust Him. We learn from this parable the same truths as we learn from the beatitudes. When we know that we need Jesus, we should trust him. When we really trust Him, He will teach to us. We will change, because Jesus will change us. But ask yourself this question: what kind of soil are you like?

Yoked with Christ

In a Bible study on today’s gospel passage, a priest started off by asking the college student participants whether they really think that the yoke of Christ is easy, and his burden light. The answer he got was a resounding “No!” Asked to explain, the students went on to recount the daily pains and discomforts they suffer in their attempt to be faithful to Christ’s teachings. “I have this problem,” said Elena. “I pray about it constantly and I make all the effort I can, yet I keep falling into the same temptation over and over again.” Johnson spoke about all his efforts to fight an addiction. “I have prayed about it. I have sought help. And I really try. Yet after a few days of apparent success,I find myself falling right back to where I started.” Many of us can identify with the predicaments of these young people. 

In today’s gospel, Jesus offers us a way out: “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). The rest He promises is a release from the experience of serving God as a fatigue and a burden. The promise means that serving God could be transformed into a sweet experience of rest. Jesus then goes on to show how: “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (verse 29). Looks like we have a problem here! Is Jesus calling on those who are carrying heavy loads to come and add a yoke to their burden? Doesn’t that sound like adding affliction to the afflicted? No; Jesus is asking us to cast away our burdens and take on His yoke. This is because, unlike the burdens we bear, His yoke is easy and His burden light.

So, then, what is this yoke of Christ? Among the Jews, the yoke was put on the necks of two cattle so that together they could pull the plough as one. It always takes a pair to work a yoke. When Jesus asks you to take the yoke, you might as well ask who is your yoke-mate. Your yoke-mate is none other than Jesus himself. The yoke, in fact, belongs to Him and He only invites you to team up with Him. The yoke of Christ is not just a yoke from Christ but also a yoke with Him. To take the yoke of Christ is to associate and identify ourselves with Him: our destiny with His destiny, our vision with His vision and our mission with His mission. It is to know that we are not pulling the yoke alone and by our power but together with Christ and by the strength that comes from Him. It is to know that Jesus is not just a teacher who gives you homework but also a friend who helps you do it. We should never forget that we are yoked with Christ. 

To this end, it helps to start each day with a prayer like this: “Lord, help me to remember that there is no problem I am going to face today that you and I together cannot handle.” This is how the yoke becomes easy and the burden light.