Ordinary riches can be stolen or lost, real riches cannot. In your soul are infinitely precious things that cannot be taken from you….unless you choose to give them away.

“Where your pleasure is, there is your treasure: where your treasure, there your heart; where your heart, there your happiness”― St. Augustine of Hippo: (354 – 430: was an early Christian theologian and philosopher whose writings influenced the development of Western Christianity and Western philosophy)

Gospel Text: (MT 13:44-46)

Jesus said to his disciples:

"The Kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field,

which a person finds and hides again,

and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

Again, the Kingdom of heaven is like a merchant

searching for fine pearls.

When he finds a pearl of great price,

he goes and sells all that he has and buys it."

In two brief parables Jesus tries to tell people what the kingdom of heaven is about: like one who finds a hidden treasure in the field and sells all he owns to be able to purchase the field and like a trader who finds a truly exceptional pearl and sells all he owns to purchase the pearl.

The kingdom of heaven is so valuable we should be willing to sell all we own to get there!

Various things may hinder our pursuit of the kingdom of heaven: our own human limitations and weaknesses, our lack of faith, our focus on things of this earth rather than of things which persist beyond this earth and the guiles of the evil one. Whatever the hindrances may be, we do need a personal relationship with Jesus who has told us about the kingdom of heaven and who has led the way for us. Jesus has also promised us that the Father would send the Helper, the Spirit of Truth, to help and guide us to do what he has taught us.

May we never go astray in our pursuit of God and the kingdom of heaven.