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Morning Devotion for the Season after Pentecost
July 31, 2024
The Invitatory
The earth is the Lord’s for he made it: O come, let us adore him.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son: and to the Holy Ghost;
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be: world without end. Amen.
Reading: Matthew 13:44-46
‘The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
‘Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.
Meditation: Jo Ann B. Jones
We in this country love to place a value on things. Within the global economy we focus on Gross Domestic Product, so that we know how the United States compares with others. Companies compare their value with respect to their assets, liabilities, value on a stock exchange, etc. We place value on our homes through appraisals and the value of our cars are measured by their Blue Book value. Some professionals value their time by means of a billing rate. And eventually all our assets can be evaluated in global terms.
But there are some aspects of life that take on a very different value. I think here of the arts - music, art, literature. Their value is more of an intrinsic nature, sometimes modified by taste and, perhaps, familiarity with the genre or expertise in it. But what lies at the base of their value is the influence of one’s own sense of aesthetic ,perhaps honed over time and involvement with a particular artistic expression, provides the measure of value.
This parable, like many others, reveals the character of God’s reign. How intriguing to consider that God’s reign is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone finds and then hides again so as to assert ownership of the parcel of land and also the treasure. There are no details: who buried the treasure, and why? Is there something wrong about the actions taken by the finder? This brief story, like the buried treasure itself, conceals much.
The narrative moves quickly from unexpected discovery, concealment, joy, total divestment of resources, and purchase of the field. The protagonist does something radical and extreme. He sells everything to risk possessing a treasure he never expected to find. And this raises a crucial question. Is it possible that the reigning presence of God in the world is like that? Is it worth everything? The parable challenges us to be all in, to embrace a singular commitment. Similarly the parable of the pearl raises its own difficult question: Are you all in? Where does your ultimate concern lie?
In the ancient world pearls held a very special place in a man’s heart. They were desirable for both their monetary value and their beauty. People found pleasure in the tactile experience and in contemplating them. There was an aesthetic joy simply in possessing a pearl and gazing at it. If a pearl was the loveliest thing in the world, think then if heaven is like a pearl of great value how beautiful heaven itself would be. And then consider its implications for being in the Kingdom of heaven. To be in the Kingdom is to accept and to respond positively to the will of God. Moreover to do the will of God is not grim, dull or painful. It is lovely. Beyond the discipline, beyond the sacrifice, beyond the self-denial, beyond the cross, there lies the supreme loveliness which is nowhere else. And this is made clear in that this is a pearl of great value. The person searching for pearls spent his life in this search. Irrespective of whether the discovery was quick or the search was lengthy the reaction is the same — everything should be given over to obtain this precious pearl. However one discovers God’s will it is worth anything to accept it. As with the treasure in the field, the question is the same: if the reigning presence of God in the world is like this, are you all in?
The Lord's Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the Kingdom, the power and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
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