(Adults, the Gospel for this Sunday is quite long and yet the first verses of the reading somehow get to the essential. We'll just focus there.)
Jesus speaks often about the Kingdom of God. It is important to him that we know what he knows. He tells us that the Kingdom of God is like treasure hidden in a field. We wonder how it can be like treasure. What can Jesus mean?
In the Gospel for this Sunday, Jesus says,
Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
God's good pleasure—what does that mean? Nothing pleases God more than to give. God is the Giver! God delights in giving the kingdom to us. God wants us to have this gift.
Okay, so...let's have it! When does God give the Kingdom? How does God give the Kingdom?
Sell your possessions, and give alms.
Selling possessions and giving alms means taking care of the poor. It sounds like the Giver is showing us how to give. Also, our hands are empty—we are ready to receive. Perhaps giving to others gets us ready to receive God's gift of the Kingdom.
Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.
What kind of treasure is he talking about here? Is this the Kingdom?
What kind of treasure can no thief steal? Not gold. Not toys. Not video games.
What kind of treasure can no moth destroy? Not silk. Not beautiful clothes. Not rich food.
Make purses, he says. Make treasure.
Make treasure...? How can we make treasure?
What kind of treasure can we make? Is this the Kingdom?
What can we make that does not wear out?
What can we make that never fails?
What can we make that is treasure?
Well, we can make friendships.
A thief cannot steal a friendship.
A moth cannot eat a friendship.
A true friendship cannot wear out.
A true friendship never fails.
Could friendship with Jesus be the treasure?
Does God delight in giving us friendship with Jesus? Is this the Kingdom?
Let's think if this makes sense.
When we pray, "Your Kingdom come," perhaps what we are really doing is making treasure. Perhaps we are building friendship with Jesus.
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
If our treasure is friendship with Jesus, then our heart is with him.
This is what we want, isn't it?
We want our heart with the One who calls us by name.
We want our heart with the One who knows us so well.
We want our heart with God the Giver.
God gives us the gift of friendship.
Truly, this is treasure.
Truly, this is the Kingdom.