Daily Gospel Reflection
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July 28, 2021
Jesus said to his disciples:
“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.
Again, the Kingdom of heaven is like a merchant
searching for fine pearls.
When he finds a pearl of great price,
he goes and sells all that he has and buys it.”
The kingdom of heaven is not like a new iPhone. It is not like a vacation house, tickets to the USC game, or anything kind of thing we deem valuable. The life of discipleship is about realizing that the kingdom of heaven is, simply put, enough.
Whenever I hear this gospel passage my mind floods with questions. But the one I always come back to is, “But what am I supposed to do next?” After selling everything for the sought after pearl, surely the merchant doesn’t then sell the pearl to then make an even bigger profit. He cherishes it and knows that the desired treasure is enough. Maybe that’s bad business, but it’s good discipleship.
Jesus’ words speak to the radicalness of his call: to seek him, to cherish him, and ultimately to remain with him. We see a radical sacrifice in giving up everything to receive the kingdom, but if we let our imaginations consider what happens next, I think we also see a deep devotion and wisdom needed to be satisfied with that gift. A devotion to remain on that land, live with our treasure alongside Christ, and to make God the center of our lives.
And as time goes on, life gets in the way, and the world creeps back in, I think that’s the part that actually makes me pause to ask if I have actually done this. In my own life I find the call to faith, to desire the pearl and treasure, easy to accept. But if I’m honest with myself, the call to hope, to trust that God’s kingdom will satisfy my ultimate desires, and to avoid turning to the things of this world for fulfillment is much harder. This radical devotion is the more challenging call for me and where I need the grace to grow in discipleship. It’s a lifelong journey to really discover that the kingdom of heaven is, quite simply, enough.
Prayer
Lord God, we desire to be wholehearted in following you, but find that we are often too hesitant. And at times our striving for the Kingdom can feel more like a burden than a treasure. When those times come, we ask that you give us the eyes to see that faith is one of your most precious gifts, and that it is worth giving up everything to find. We ask this through Jesus, your Son and our Lord. Amen.
Saint of the Day
St. Nazarius was an early Christian martyr who learned the faith from St. Peter himself, and then traveled far and wide to share it with others.
Nazarius’ father was an officer in the Roman army, and his mother was a Christian. Through her, Nazarius was connected to the Christian community in Rome, and he was instructed in the faith by Peter.
Filled with zeal to share the good news with others, Nazarius left Rome to teach the faith to others, and enlisted the help of another young man, Celsus. When they arrived in Milan, they were arrested under a new persecution ordered by the emperor. They were both beheaded and buried in a garden.
Several centuries later, St. Ambrose discovered their remains. In Nazarius’ tomb, Ambrose found bright red, flowing blood that looked as though it had just been spilled. He moved the bodies of these saints into a new church, and a woman who was suffering from a possession was exorcised and liberated at that place through their intercession.
Relics of St. Nazarius rest in the reliquary chapel in the Basilica.
St. Nazarius, you were the young man who learned the faith from St. Peter and were killed for sharing it with others—pray for us!