"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field"

Feast of Blessed Cyprian Tansi:

Scripture 

1st Reading: Phil2:1-11
Resp. Psalm: Is12:2-6
Gosp. Accl.: 2Cor5:19
Gospel: Mt13:44-46

Jesus is the treasure

A treasure is an article or material or thing of great value. Some treasures are inestimable and priceless because they are never put to valuation to determine their worth. This is why generations of men and women have always been fascinated by treasures and have always sought to acquire them if they could. The Lord today compares the kingdom to a treasure, which a treasure seeker discovers in a field, covers it up, sells everything he has and buys that field and everything in it. What this means is that the kimgdom of heaven is of such great value that one should possess it at all costs. This is because the kingdom is where God is and lives in unapproachable light. To be with God is everlasting bliss. Do we desire this treasure with all our hearts? Do we struggle to acquire it?

The kingdom is like a pearl of great value 

Pearls are precious gems or stones that are of very high monetary value. There are not many pearls in the ancient world. A merchant of pearls could travel great distances just to acquire a precious pearl which he thereafter resold at a great price. This is why our Lord compared the kingdom to a fine pearl of great value. To find such a pearl after a great and arduous search is always a thing of great joy to the pearl merchant. It is therefore understandable that after such a hard and arduous search, such a merchant would sell everything to buy such a pearl. Our Lord today teaches us that the kingdom is such a pearl that each of us must be ready to forgo everything he possesses in this world, to acquire. Do we see the kingdom as the priceless pearl we came to earth to acquire? Are we using our time and talents here on earth to prepare us so that we do not miss heaven?

Be like Jesus

The word of God today teaches us that we are here on earth to live our lives like Jesus. We are here on earth to act the way He acted. We are here on earth to imitate the life of our Lord. We are to have the mind of Christ and put on His humility and love. We are to consider His self emptying for our sakes. There is a consequence for all the things that we do, just as there was a consequence for all that the Lord did: He was exalted and glorified because of His acceptance of suffering and death. Are we like Him in our thoughts and deeds? Do we have the mind of Jesus? Do we act like Jesus?

Jesus, the treasure and pearl found by Blessed Cyprian Tansi

Blessed Cyprian Iwene Tansi was a Nigerian priest, who was ordained a priest in Nigeria but felt drawn to the life of sacrifice that monks were called to live. He then joined the Cistercian Monastery in Leicester, England, where he rapidly moved up on the path of holiness. His life was a great example to other monks in the Monastery. May he intercede for us. 

Let us pray

"O God, who joined the apostolic zeal of a pastor to the way of life of a monk in Blessed Cyprian Michael; grant us, by his intercession, that persevering in prayer, we may seek untiringly the coming of your kingdom." Amen.

May the Living Word of God find a true dwelling place within our hearts and souls today and always.