Breaking the Word

"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. (Mt 13:44-46)

There is a treasure hunt in this parable. Treasures are always hidden. Anyone who finds will take it away. Here the treasure is found in someone else’s land. The does not belong to him. If he takes it away then he becomes a thief. He goes to collect money to buy the land in which the treasure is found. Kingdom is so attractive that anyone will long for it and will be happy to gain it at whatever expense.

Merchants are always on their move to buy precious things (pearls) and sell it at higher prices. Treasure is for possession whereas merchants are doing it for business. Even for business the merchant is ready to spend any amount of money to buy the pearls. It could be for possession or for sale for greater value. Kingdom could be for possession or for communicating to the others but the person or merchant is ready for losing all his own wealth.

“Sells all that he has and buys that field or buys the pearl”. Both the parables speak of selling all one possesses in order to gain. Kingdom is greater than all one has. Whatever wealth one may have but it is of no use or less value when compared to the kingdom. Kingdom is of highest value. It will always be more than the value of things one has. Interestingly,  kingdom can be bought by losing all the possessions.

Then, dismissing the crowds, he went into the house. His disciples approached him and said, "Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field." He said in reply, "He who sows good seed is the Son of Man, the field is the world, the good seed the children of the kingdom. The weeds are the children of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. Just as weeds are collected and burned (up) with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his kingdom all who cause others to sin and all evildoers. They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears ought to hear. (Mt 13:36-43)

Jesus went back into the house and the disciples asked him to explain the parables. The disciples considered him as their teacher. They cleared their doubts. Jesus also spent time with them explaining them the parable. But we could also look at it in a different way. Jesus was with his disciples re-reading the parable. There was the first lesson of lectio divina. Jesus was contextualizing the parable with the disciples.

Jesus was also personalizing the parable. He made known to the disciples the role that he was to play in living the parables. The word of God was not for reverence and respect alone. The reader should find a place in the word of God. Jesus found a place in the parable. He was the one who was to sow the good seed. Disciples were also made to find a place in the parable.  

The challenge is also given to the listeners. He said: “Whoever has ears ought to hear”. Word of God is not for just listening alone. One ought to hear the word of God. Then one has to personalize. In personalizing one has to find a place within the word of God as Jesus has found a place in this parable. The role that one finds in listening the word of God will compel him to live the word of God for himself and for the others.