In the Gospel reading from Matthew 13, Jesus tells two very brief parables about what the Kingdom of heaven is like.
Though often times his messages were hidden, Jesus always used examples that his listeners would relate to. Today he talks about finding things that would make us rich beyond our wildest dreams. A treasure buried in a field, and a pearl of great price. Who wouldn’t like to have those things? The people in the parables were willing to give up everything they had to get their hands on that which would change their lives.
Of course, we know that the treasure and the pearl of great price are Christ Himself. He is the Way to heaven. So it begs the question, what are we willing to do for Him? Could we “sell all that we have?” Many years ago I met a Catholic evangelist who often repeated a favorite saying. "You gotta give it all up for Jesus!" It's a difficult concept to get our minds around. But in the end, nothing else matters except that we possess Jesus. All of our earthly possessions will be rendered meaningless.
Father, help us to be willing to give it all up for Jesus, so that we may attain the pearl of great price, the Kingdom of heaven. Amen.
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