Strive to Become “Yourself” in God’s Kingdom
1 Kgs 3:5, 7-12;
Rom 8:28-30; Mt 13:44-52 (17 /A)
“The measure you give is the
measure you receive”
In today’s Gospel, Jesus compares
the kingdom of heaven to a treasure hidden in a field and a pearl of great
price. In both stories, people joyfully give up everything to gain something
infinitely more valuable. Jesus is asking us a profound question: What is the
greatest treasure of your life? The Greek word for treasure is θησαυρός
(thēsauros), from which we derive the English word treasury. It means not
merely material wealth but that which one values above everything else. Jesus
teaches that the greatest treasure is not power, success, or possessions, but “Yourself”
in him, where every human person discovers his or her true dignity.
The king Solomon asked not for
riches or a long life but for “a listening heart” (1 Kgs 3:9). The Hebrew
expression לֵב שֹׁמֵעַ (lēb shōmēaʿ) literally means “a heart
that listens.” In the Bible, the heart is the center of reason, conscience, and
moral decision. A listening heart seeks God’s wisdom before making life’s
choices. The French philosopher Blaise Pascal wrote, “The heart has its reasons
which reason does not know.” He reminds us that the deepest truths of
life—love, justice, “yourself” in him cannot be measured by money or
technology. They are discovered by a heart open to God and to others.
Likewise, St.
Irenaeus of Lyons expressed the Christian vision of humanity in one
unforgettable sentence: “The glory of God is the human person fully alive”
(Adversus Haereses, IV, 20, 7). To be fully alive is to become the person God
created us to be—living in truth, justice, and love. The Kingdom of God is
therefore not merely a future destination; it begins whenever human dignity is
respected and nurtured. This is precisely what Catholic Social Teaching
proclaims. Every person is created in the image and likeness of God (Gen
1:26–27). Therefore, every human being possesses inviolable dignity and
fundamental rights: the right to life, the right to freedom of conscience and
freedom of thought and expression, the right to education, the right to
meaningful work and just wages, and the right to participate in society. These
are not privileges granted by governments; they flow from our God-given
dignity. It is like today’s world-famous burning Janthar Manthar in Delhi fights
for this right. It is as the Church teaches, “The dignity of the human person
is rooted in his creation in the image and likeness of God” (CCC 1700).
Our world often treasures wealth
over wisdom, consumption over compassion, and success over service. Jesus
reverses these priorities. The treasure worth sacrificing everything for is not
what we possess but who we become. A society becomes truly prosperous not when
it has the tallest buildings, but when it forms men and women who are honest,
compassionate, just, dignified, and committed to the common good. What treasure
are you seeking? Is it temporary success, or the lasting treasure of becoming “Yourself” in Christ? When
we seek God’s kingdom first, we not only transform our own lives but also build
families, communities, and nations where every person’s dignity is respected,
and every human life is cherished. May the Eucharist strengthen us to seek the
true treasure, to cultivate a listening heart (lēb shōmēaʿ), and to value the
treasure (thēsauros) of God’s Kingdom above all else.
Teach and instruct
each other, in all wisdom.
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