When I was reading and reflecting on the Gospel for today, I was struck by words I’d never noticed before. The man who found the treasure in the field “hid it again and went away”. The merchant who sought good pearls “went away” and sold what he had, then returned for the pearl and bought it.
They had to go away and tend to business before coming back and purchasing their treasure. Both men had to sell all that they had to buy it. They had to go away and make arrangements to be able to purchase their treasure. “Huh,” I thought. “I wonder what that might parallel in the spiritual life.”
Whether we stumble upon it – like treasure in a field, or find it after a long and deliberate search – like the merchant with the pearl, we have to go away and detach ourselves from our old ways of sin to embrace grace. For example, the Sacrament of Reconciliation prepares us to readily receive other gifts given to us through the other Sacraments.
If we are to find the treasure of the Kingdom of Heaven, or the Pearl of Great Price, we need to go away and prepare ourselves to worthily receive the gift. Then we will know the true joy of the Kingdom.
Cuando estaba leyendo y reflexionando sobre el Evangelio de hoy, me llamaron la atención unas palabras que nunca antes había notado. El hombre que encontró el tesoro en el campo “lo vuelve a esconder, y lleno de alegría, va y vende cuanto tiene”. El comerciante que buscaba buenas perlas “va y vende cuanto tiene”, luego regresó por la perla y la compró.
Tuvieron que irse y ocuparse de los negocios antes de regresar y comprar su tesoro. Ambos hombres tuvieron que vender todo lo que tenían para comprarlo. Tuvieron que irse y arreglar unas cosas para poder comprar su tesoro. “Interesante”, pensé. “Me pregunto cuál podría ser el paralelo de eso en la vida espiritual”.
Ya sea que lo encontremos por casualidad – como un tesoro en el campo, o que lo encontremos después de una larga y deliberada búsqueda – como el mercader de la perla, tenemos que alejarnos y desprendernos de los viejos caminos del pecado para poder abrazar la gracia. Por ejemplo, el Sacramento de la Reconciliación nos prepara para recibir fácilmente otros dones que se nos dan a través de otros Sacramentos.
Si vamos a encontrar el tesoro del Reino de los Cielos, o la Perla de Gran Precio, debemos irnos y prepararnos para recibir dignamente ese regalo. Así conoceremos el verdadero gozo del Reino.
Mary Thissen is a St. Louis native living in East Central Illinois with her husband and children. She is blessed with twin boys Earthside and four children now living in Heaven. When she is not working as a healthcare data analyst or caring for her boys, she enjoys studying and writing about the Catholic faith and ministering to women who are suffering through miscarriage or infertility. You can connect with Mary on Instagram @waitingonmiracles.
Feature Image Credit: Vika_Glitter, pixabay.com/photos/woman-mysterious-field-road-meadow-5718089/
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