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“The Hidden Treasure”
By James Tissot, 1886-94 |
Readings for Wednesday of the
Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time [1]
Readings from the Jerusalem
Bible [2]
Readings and Commentary: [3]
Reading 1: Jeremiah
15:10, 16-21
Woe to me, mother, that you gave me birth!
a man of strife and contention to all the land!
I neither borrow nor lend,
yet all curse me.
When I found your words, I devoured them;
they became my joy and the happiness of my
heart,
Because I bore your name,
O Lord, God of hosts.
I did not sit celebrating
in the circle of merrymakers;
Under the weight of your hand I sat alone
because you filled me with indignation.
Why is my pain continuous,
my wound incurable, refusing to be healed?
You have indeed become for me a treacherous
brook,
whose waters do not abide!
Thus the Lord answered me:
If you repent, so that I restore you,
in my presence you shall stand;
If you bring forth the precious without the
vile,
you shall be my mouthpiece.
Then it shall be they who turn to you,
and you shall not turn to them;
And I will make you toward this people
a solid wall of brass.
Though they fight against you,
they shall not prevail,
For I am with you,
to deliver and rescue you, says the Lord.
I will free you from the hand of the wicked,
and rescue you from the grasp of the violent.
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Commentary on Jer 15:10, 16-21
This selection continues the prophet Jeremiah’s lament (his
“Second Confession"). In these verses the prophet is having a crisis of
faith about his own mission. He cries out that he wishes he had never been born
(since he was called from the womb to his mission, Jeremiah 1:4-5). Because
he constantly challenges the social traditions that are evolving, because he
calls for the people to reform themselves and predicts God’s punishment if they
do not, he is outcast (“I did not sit celebrating in the circle of
merrymakers; Under the weight of your hand I sat alone because you filled me
with indignation”).
In response to his lament, the Lord calls Jeremiah to continue his
prophetic work. First, Jeremiah himself must repent from his own rebellious
way, and return to ritual purity (“If you bring forth the precious without
the vile, you shall be my mouthpiece”). The Lord pledges unfailing support
for the prophet’s mission, and ultimate victory over God’s foes (“For I am
with you, to deliver and rescue you, says the Lord.”).
CCC: Jer 15:15-18 2584
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Responsorial
Psalm: Psalm 59:2-3, 4, 10-11, 17, 18
R. (17d) God is my
refuge on the day of distress.
Rescue me from my
enemies, O my God;
from my adversaries
defend me.
Rescue me from
evildoers;
from bloodthirsty men
save me.
R. God is my refuge on the day of distress.
For behold, they lie
in wait for my life;
mighty men come
together against me,
Not for any offense or
sin of mine, O Lord.
R. God is my refuge on the day of distress.
O my strength! for you
I watch;
for you, O God, are my
stronghold,
As for my God, may his
mercy go before me;
may he show me the
fall of my foes.
R. God is my refuge on the day of distress.
But I will sing of
your strength
and revel at dawn in
your mercy;
You have been my
stronghold,
my refuge in the day
of distress.
R. God is my refuge on the day of distress.
O my strength! your
praise will I sing;
for you, O God, are my
stronghold,
my merciful God!
R. God is my refuge on the day of distress.
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Commentary on Ps 59:2-3, 4, 10-11, 17, 18
Psalm 59
is a lament which alternates prayers for salvation with petitions to punish the
enemies of the faithful. The plea for salvation in the psalm strikes a
counterpoint to the lament of Jeremiah, who is isolated because of his actions
in response to his call to serve the Lord.
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Gospel: Matthew
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.”
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Commentary on Mt
13:44-46
The parable of the buried treasure and the
parable of the pearl have the same point. One who understands the Kingdom of
Heaven and sees its worth joyfully places obtaining that promise before all
else. It is the primacy of Christ’s teaching that guides the disciple in all
things. While these two parables have generally the same meaning, it is
interesting to note they have some subtle differences. The parable of the
hidden treasure which is found by accident refers to an abundance of gifts.
The parable of the pearl sought out through diligence refers to the
beauty of the Kingdom of God.
“Anyone who understands the Kingdom which Christ
proposes realizes that it is worth staking everything to obtain it […]. The
Kingdom of heaven is difficult to win. No one can be sure of achieving
it, but the humble cry of the repentant man can open wide its doors” (St.
Josemaria Escriva, Christ Is Passing By, 180). [4]
CCC: Mt 13:44-45 546
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Reflection:
The two parables of
the Gospel seem, on the surface, to be saying the same thing. Indeed, they both speak of the inestimable
value of finding the Kingdom of God (in this life and the next). They both speak of the great joy of the
person who is able to acquire it. But
there is a difference in the means by which this occurs.
In the analogy to the
buried treasure, the seeker is said to have found the treasure. It is as if they are simply walking in a
field and stumble upon it. In this instance,
it would be like the casual Christian, the person who is a member of the faith
community by accident of birth and upbringing who has followed the teaching of
the Lord more out of habit than real desire to understand the Lord. One day this person has a revelation, and
suddenly sees the value of the peace of Christ which is what the Kingdom of God
provides in this life. With that
revelation, and without much fanfare, that person’s life is transformed, and
they are filled with joy at their discovery.
There are many such
individuals, and they give hope to families who struggle to bring their
children to faith in a world that devalues its teaching. As parents, we must never give up on encouraging
(and praying for) our children. Our hope
is they discover the treasure we cherish.
The other parable,
the parable of the pearl, speaks of the merchant searching for pearls. That person’s encounter is not an accident,
but rather the result of long effort. In
this instance, it would be like the diligent seeker of truth who explores all
manner of faith traditions, finally finding Christ and his wisdom. Like the accidental discovery of the buried
treasure, this person sees the priceless nature of God’s love and salvation and
dedicates themselves completely to the goal of attaining that end.
Regardless of our
template, whether we stumble across buried treasure, or if we find the pearl of
great price after long effort, we are told that finding that treasure requires
single-minded dedication to the attainment of that which is freely
offered. It is the lesson Christ offers,
and one we rededicate ourselves to living.
Pax
[1]
S.S. Commemoratio[2]
The picture used is “The Hidden Treasure” By James Tissot, 1886-94.
[3]
The readings are taken from the New American Bible, with the exception of the
psalm and its response which were developed by the International Committee for
English in Liturgy (ICEL). This republication is not authorized by USCCB and is
for private use only.
[4]
The Navarre Bible, “Gospels and Acts,” Scepter Publishers, Princeton, NJ, ©
2002, p. 136.
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