Search + Sell = Kingdom of God

Fr. Azam Vianney Mansha, CJM - STL

With the 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time (A), we are going to finish  the Parabolic Discourse of Jesus. As in the previous week, this week we  also have three parables: The parable of the hidden treasure in a field  (Matthew 13:44); the parable of fine pearls (vv. 45-46) and the parable  of throwing nets into the sea (vv. 47-50). Like the other week, let’s take  a thematic journey to deepen our understanding towards the  eschatological parables. 

So, before we unpack the mystery of today’s Gospel passage, I  would like to briefly explain two words: parable and eschatology. 

In Hebrew, ‘parable’ is called ל ָשׁ ָמ) mashal) for a short religious allegory. In a Jewish context (Midrash and Talmud), the parabolic way  was a valuable means or a way of communication to determine the true  sense of the Law/Old Testament. In a Christian context, while adopting  the Old Testament explanation, ‘parable’ is seen as an earthly story full  of earthly reality, images, things, but points towards heaven. 

The Greek word, ἔσχατος (last) and λογία (study) ‘eschatology’  actually is a branch of Theology in which the study of ‘end things’ is  done. The parables of Jesus do not only challenge us to raise our moral  standards, but they prepare us for the end things. Take the example of  today’s parable: 

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the  sea and caught fish of every kind; when it was full, they drew it  ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but threw out the  bad. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out  and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the  furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 

Matthew 13:47-50

With this in mind, we move towards the Gospel passage to see two  common themes in parables. The first common theme in all three  parables is “search.” For example: a man searches for hidden treasure; a  merchant searches for fine pearls and fishermen search for good fish.  The second common theme can be “to sell in order to buy something  new” or “to detach in order to attach to a new thing.” For example, a  man who found treasure, he “sold” or “detached” from all things of the  past in order to buy, to attach with the treasure; a merchant “sold” or  “detached” from all things in order to buy fine pearls; and the fishermen  “detached” themselves from bad fish in order to collect good fish. 

Now let’s begin with the first theme, “to search.” Please do not  take the meaning of the word ‘search’ literally, as if something was lost  and then you have to search for it. NO!!! The Kingdom of God is not  lost somewhere. The Kingdom of God is already among us as Jesus  Christ preached Himself. It is we who are lost and need to go in search  of the Kingdom of God. Actually, ‘to search’ means, as per Parabolic  Discourse, it is an invitation to keep the faith alive that good is coming  out.

Just take the example of the man, he found treasure, the merchant  bought a fine pearl and the fisherman caught the good fish. Now think  for a moment, if a man does not search for a treasure, a merchant does  not search for a fine pearl and a fisherman does not search for good fish,  would they be able to find, treasure, fine pearl and good fish? NO!!! So  in that manner, if we do not search for the Kingdom of God while  having a flame of faith in our heart, how are we going to find the  Kingdom of God? So keep on searching or keep the flame of faith as an  act to PUSH to enter into the Kingdom of God, and as you may know,  PUSH stands for: 

P = PRAY 

U = UNTIL 

S = SOMETHING 

H = HAPPENS 

Once we are successful in the search or filled with the fire of faith,  we need “to sell” or “detach” from what we have. Now ‘to sell’ or  ‘detach’ is a famous topic of prosperity Gospel preachers. They tell  people that you have to give everything to God so that God can give you  more blessings. I have two basic questions: If I have to give to God as  the prosperity preachers say, then why is God giving to me in the first  place? My second basic question is, “If I am a father or mother and I sell  everything, which means, I cannot pay my rent anymore; I cannot send  my children to school; I cannot pay the medical bills or or other bills?; in  brief, my family and I will be suffering. A question, does God want us to  suffer? No! As I always say about prosperity preaches who consider  worldly things as blessings, they often forget that the third temptation of  Jesus was about worldly things, as the devil told Jesus:

Then the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him  all the kingdoms of the world and their glory, and he said to him,  “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.”  Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written,  ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.’ ” 

Matthew 4:8-10 

So what is going on? As I have already shared with you, that  parable is “an earthly story full of earthly reality, images, things but  points towards heaven” and contains a twisting point / turning point.  Now, when Jesus said that a man should sell everything to buy a treasure  land; a merchant should sell everything to buy a fine pearl; think for a  moment, if they sell their old things as a way to invest in new things or if  they detach from old business in order to attach to new business, which  is the Kingdom of God? So if you want to invest in the Kingdom of  God, feed the hungry; if you want to collect treasure in heaven, clothe  the naked; if you want a fine pearl, welcome the stranger. Indeed, we  enter into the Kingdom of God not by giving to the prosperity preachers  but by offering our charity to the hungry, the naked, the strangers, the  sick and all those who are in need, as St. Augustine says:  

God has no need of your money, but the poor. You give it to the  poor, and God receives it. 

St. Augustine of Hippo  

May the powerful intercession of our Mother, the Blessed Virgin  Mary, be our strength to constantly search the Kingdom of God among  us while investing our time, talent and treasure in our less fortunate  brothers and sisters in order to prepare ourselves for eternal life.