Matthew 13:45-46

“The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it” (Mt 13:45-46).
(http://www.domusviridis.org.uk/wol/1981/198107.htm)

Having found the pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it. Jesus wants to make us understand the value of the Kingdom of God which is actually the value of Jesus Himself. Before the Kingdom, we are called to decide for ourselves for that which counts.

Above all there is highlighted here that the Kingdom is a reality of great value and of rare beauty. Jesus tells us that it is not enough to seek and find; IT IS NECESSARY TO DECIDE. And the motive for the decision is the “joy”, the passion for the treasure. Love for Jesus makes all the rest relative, and free to walk toward happiness. The God in which we believe gives us joy.

JESUS IS THE HIDDEN TREASURE and the precious pearl: whoever, sooner or later, finds it, be it that he is not seeking it like the peasant, or be it that he is seeking it like the merchant. But when he finds it, it is important to sell, to detach oneself from the rest, so that Jesus becomes the center, the “all” of ones life. The joy to have met Him is the force in order to decide to arrive to Him.

Love leads us to decide: it takes away that which does not count for love of that which counts. We know well that the pearls of great value are found in the depths. Let us live, guided by this word, our life deeply. Not to just “survive”, but to “LIVE INTERIORLY”, as Pope John Paul II used to say to the youth.

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An Experience of Life:

“GRANDMA… I HAVE TWO OF THEM!”
During a week of community and missionary animation, in a small region of Lazio, Italy, one of our missionary priests was received with joy in a parish auditorium. And there he shared his experiences and the reality of so many poor brothers, while everyone listened with great interest.

Among the people present was a little three-year-old girl who was listening in silence and seemed to be attentive to every word. At a certain point Father Robert saw that the girl drew near to her grandmother and whispered something in her ear. The grandmother smiled and was moved.

At the end of the meeting both the grandmother and the granddaughter went up to the missionary and the grandmother told what happened a few moments ago: “Do you know father, my granddaughter listened to what you said to us about the poor, about their suffering and about how they need also the simple and normal things. And so she too wants to do something for them. When she drew near to me, she said to me: “Grandma, let us give to Father Robert my jacket for the poor children. I have two of them”!”

In the simple hearts of the little ones, love “runs” swiftly to the essential; calculations are done quickly and sharing what one has with others becomes quickly a reality!

(From “Missionary Community of Villaregia”)