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"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind, which, when it was full, they drew to shore; and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth."
Jesus said to them, "Have you understood all these things?" They said to Him, "Yes, Lord." Then He said to them, "Therefore every scribe instructed concerning the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old."
- Matthew 13:44-52
In our recent readings, Jesus has begun to preach to the crowds in parables. On Friday, we read that Jesus taught the parable of the Wheat and Tares. Yesterday, we read that Jesus sent the multitude away and went into the house. And His disciples came to Him, saying, "Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field." He answered and said to them: "He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one. The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels. Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!"
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it." New parables give us new glimpses of the nature of this Kingdom. My study bible tells us, "The Kingdom of God is compared to an earthly treasure and a costly pearl. The driving desire of men for wealth pictures the desire of the soul for heavenly riches. The jewel is described as hidden because it requires faith and perseverance to discover it.) Recent readings have taught us about mysteries, things "kept hidden" (such as in the statement, "I will utter things kept secret from the foundation of the world"). Again, it is the same Greek word used here.
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind, which, when it was full, they drew to shore; and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth." My study bible tells us: "The Kingdom is compared to a fishing net which gathers the good and the wicked, an image similar to that of the parable of the tares. The point is that the final judgment will finally disclose and separate the wicked from the righteous." Again, as in yesterday's reading (and the parable of the Wheat and Tares which it explains), the subject of Judgment returns. The end of the age is the time when the world is claimed for this Kingdom, a kind of completeness of reconciliation.
Jesus said to them, "Have you understood all these things?" They said to Him, "Yes, Lord." Then He said to them, "Therefore every scribe instructed concerning the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old." My study bible says here: "Jesus does not reject the Old Testament; rather, He commends it and calls it treasure. Fulfillment is found, however, in the New Testament, which leads to a complete understanding of the Old Testament. This parable describes how Matthew, a Christian scribe, composed his Gospel."
It's important that we understand the concept of mystery, of things hidden. The sacraments in the Church are also called mysteries (especially in the Eastern Churches), and it is important that we understand that when we participate in worship and in divine grace, we are opening up to mystery. That is, to the Kingdom which is so often described by Jesus as containing "things hidden" or "kept secret." The Eucharist, for example, is a perfect illustration of this mystery of the Kingdom. It's not just the mystery that we partake of the Body and Blood of Christ, but the mystery goes far beyond that. It is the Kingdom itself into which we are invited to participate, and we simply don't know all the treasure that is contained therein. In Baptism, we are given the gift of Baptism into the Spirit. How can we possibly know or understand the great mystery -- the things "hidden" or "secret" -- in the grace that is conferred upon us at Baptism? Can we know how God will come to work in our lives? Can we understand or predict exactly how the Spirit will work with us and within us? When we participate in the life of the Kingdom we are invited to an overwhelming mystery, something unknown, that cannot possibly be calculated, by anyone. The infinite creativity of God goes to work in us, and in that mystery is also the workings of the Father that bring us to faith, and the mystery of the cooperation of our own spirit with this work. No one can predict any of these things, nor can we understand the full workings of the Kingdom. Therefore, the things kept hidden or kept secret become of fundamental importance to us. When we enter into a life of faith, it becomes an unfolding journey. Our own reconciliation, and the process of healing us as those who become members in this Kingdom, becomes a kind of a process that the leaven hidden in three measures of flour illustrates. The journey we are on may be filled with treasure hidden in this field for which we are willing to give up all else, and that beautiful pearl that is worth everything else in our lives. What could that be worth, and what could it be? This is also part of the mystery. We don't know what God will bring us, what this relationship with Christ will give us, or what it may call on us to discard. But we do know that it must change and transform us, in a hidden and secret way, in a mysterious process that we can't predict. Standing on the shoulders of others, advised and guided by those who've made the journey before us, treasures old and new from the spiritual experience of other scribes can help to point the way, and to affirm our faith. In this we take sustenance and nurturing. In the Kingdom, there is a great cloud of witnesses, a communion of saints, to teach us more about our faith and to help strengthen and encourage us in the journey, with things both new and old.
