Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52
31 He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; 32 it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.” 33 He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.”
44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. 45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; 46 on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it. 47 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind; 48 when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but threw out the bad.
49 So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous 50 and throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 51 “Have you understood all this?” They answered, “Yes.” 52 And he said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.”
“Treasure hidden in the field”
A deep reflection helps us see how much of Jesus' teaching is concentrated on the Kingdom. Sometimes He calls it the Kingdom of Heaven, or speaks about the Kingdom of God.
What is Jesus' Kingdom? It is not a geographic area nor a historical period governed by humans. Much less is it the reward of a righteous life after death. Jesus' Kingdom is God's Presence in our human consciousness everywhere and at all times in our earthly life. Now and near as in Mark 1:15, "The time has come....the kingdom of God has come near."
It is the real constant presence that can motivate and promote our daily actions according to God's love, care and mercy. Being in God's Kingdom means that we are in God's heart, even better that God lives in our hearts! "I no longer live, but Christ lives in me" Galatians 2:20. Am I willing to be a member of this Kingdom?
Jesus loves active partners who search for and cultivate this Kingdom, to live not only in expectation of the life to come after death, but to live it here and now, in its full truth and reality.
A field near the Sea of Galilee
Being hidden like a treasure in a field refers to those who live in troubled and uncertain times. They need to keep their treasure available when it is needed, rather than concealing it or storing it away.
The person who finds this treasure would sell everything he has to buy the field. There his/her heart will be full of satisfaction, joy and contentment.
Once we look for this treasure and find it, we are called by God not to forsake it. We should beware of neglecting it, giving it up, or replacing it with something shiny, which is temporal and not truly valuable. "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" Matthew 6:21.
Where is my treasure today? How do I care for it according to Jesus' constant presence in my heart, mind and acts?
"Your Kingdom Come, as in heaven, so on earth" Matthew 6:10.