WHAT IS THE MOST VALUABLE THING TO YOU?

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Readings:

1 Kings 3:5,7-12

Psalm 119:57,72,76-77,127-130

Romans 8:28-30

Matthew 13:44-52

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I heard something compelling recently and I feel empowered by it. The words were put in the mouth of a Russian businessman. He said that if you want to feel powerful, go to that place where you call home. Go and rediscover your roots, the place where you are nourished, the place where you feel like a child again. This is just profound because this is everything that Christianity wants us to imbibe and internalise. In the Gospel today, Jesus speaks of finding a treasure of inestimable value. And he uses this to describe the Kingdom of God. God’s kingdom is like finding a treasure buried in a field. It is like a merchant who finds a pearl of great value and sells everything in order to acquire it. But then Jesus gives a caveat: that the kingdom of God is like a fisherman who casts a dragnet into the sea and hauling in all kinds of things. Afterwards, they sit down to separate the good fish from those that are useless. In the same way, we all will be judged according to what we consider valuable; if we made ourselves valuable or if we made ourselves worthless.

The way we make ourselves valuable is by knowing our roots, knowing that we are children of God and we shall return to God at the end of our lives. We make ourselves useless when we start chasing things that are fleeting shadows, things that have no lasting value: pleasure, power, material possessions, marital status and fame. All of these will not last. What you consider most valuable should be things that last, things that connect you directly to God. The same idea is hinted at in the Gospel acclamation when Jesus says: “Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for revealing the mysteries of the kingdom to mere children” (Matthew 11:25). As children of God, we are part of Him, we find our roots in Him and draw our strength from Him. The same thing is mentioned by Saint Paul when he says that we find our purpose when we realise that God made us and wants to renew us in the image of His Son (Romans 8:29).

Wisdom is to seek God as your greatest treasure just like Solomon did. Solomon acknowledged that he was young and unskilled in leadership. And since God has given him the throne of his father, he needs an understanding heart, to discern good from evil in order to rule wisely. God then offered him a heart that is wise and shrewd as none before him ever had and none will have after him (1 Kings 3:12). You are most powerful when you rely on God when you connect yourself to your source of true life.

JUDE-MARY OWOH

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Prayer:

1. O God fill me with grace and appreciation for every moment I spend in Your presence in Jesus' name.

2. Father, may Your Word which I listen to daily, transform my heart and impact every aspect of my life, in Jesus' name.

3. May my regular participation in holy Communion, and the sacraments be moments of renewal, peace and joy as I place my trust in You, through Christ our Lord. Amen