(Gospel passage at the end of this article)
Observation:
The parable is one of the many parables in this section of Matthew’s gospel. It comes after the parables of the Sower, the Weeds and Wheat, and the Mustard seed, among others. It talks about the Kingdom of God/Heaven, a phrase that is mentioned more than 120 times in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke (also known as the Synoptic Gospels). Being mentioned that many times, this subject must be a very important one in the preaching of Jesus. In fact, it can be said that if Jesus had a Personal Mission Statement, it was to preach the Kingdom of God.
Interpretation:
What is the Kingdom of God? The Jews during Jesus’ times understood this term as the time when the Messiah would come, and Israel would be liberated from the Romans. It would be prosperous times, just like the time when David was king. Jesus, of course, was speaking of a “kingdom that is not of this world.” For Jesus, the Kingdom of God as a condition (not a place) when God would reign in the lives and hearts of the people. It is a condition when love, forgiveness, justice and peace become the prevailing values; and where the poor, sick, and marginalized are included in the mainstream and benefits of society.
Jesus spoke of the Kingdom of God as “already here” but also as “not yet.” The Israelites were of course puzzled because, for them, it cannot be here until the Messiah comes. But Jesus meant that it is “already here” because the process of healing and transformation of the world has already started with his becoming one of us. But it is “not yet” because the healing and transformation is not yet complete, and still on going.
The parable for this Sunday is what we consider as a “twin parable.” It presents the Kingdom of God as “like a treasure buried in a field” and “like the merchant searching for fine pearls.” In interpreting a “twin parable,” our search should reveal a meaning that is common to both parts of the parable.
- First, we note that the comparison is first as a “treasure” and then as a “merchant.” It would have been more logical for the second comparison to be with the “pearl,” isn’t it? Our search for the common element then should be more of the situation presented in both parts rather than what is common to the “treasure” and the “pearl.”
- Secondly, let us also eliminate the other elements that we may initially think may be common but which, on a deeper analysis, are not? For example, some would interpret that the parable as saying that one has to “search” for the Kingdom of God. But this is doubtful since the finding of the treasure and the pearl are presented as being accidental and a fortunate turn of events. (Note that the parable presents the finder of the treasure as a hired hand who ploughs the field and accidentally finds the treasure).
Others would say that it is the “joy” of finding the Kingdom that is the message of the Gospel. This is also doubtful because “joy” is not at all mentioned in the part of the merchant.
Another interpretation is that one has to “give up everything” for the sake of the Kingdom. This is also tenuous because the merchant has not really given up anything. The merchant, in biblical times, is a wholesaler who buys and sells for a profit. He has simply sells everything he has to buy the pearl, but eventually plans to sell it (obviously for a profit, instead of simply feasting on it with his eyes).
Finally, the interpretation cannot be the “value” of the Kingdom because the people in Jesus’ times already knew this and were simply awaiting it.
- What then is the likely message of the parable? Well, what is common to both parts of the parable is the behavior of both the finder in the field and the merchant. They both acted decisively: they GO, they SELL, and they BUY.
I believe the message is this: the condition that the Kingdom of God presents is so powerful and compelling that anyone who gets a taste of it cannot help but personally commit to it.
Generalization:
In the Renewal community, we have all tasted what it means to be loved, forgiven and accepted. We know what it means to have a personal relationship with Jesus. It is this personal experience that compels us therefore to commit to our community and apostolate, and to spread the good news that we have heard AND felt to others.
Application/Discussion Questions:
- What have you actively done to share your Renewal experience with others?
- What may be hindering you from doing more to invite others to be part of our Renewal community?
Matt 13:44-52
44 "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.
45 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls.
46 When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.
47 "Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish.
48 When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away.
49 This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous
50 and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
51 "Have you understood all these things?" Jesus asked. "Yes," they replied.
52 He said to them, "Therefore every teacher of the law who has been instructed about the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old."
(NIV)
Saturday, July 16, 2005
Matthew 10:37-42 Loving Parents More than Jesus (Gospel for June 26, 2005)
(This is an abbreviated commentary. Gospel passage at the end of the commentary)
The gospel this Sunday talks about those “who love father or mother more than me” as not being worthy disciples of Jesus. It is not true, by the way, that this is the battle cry of the Singles Apostolate, and the perennial excuse used by them to leave their families and attend apostolate activities. But it does seem ironic that this gospel would follow the wonderful Family Day celebration that we just had last Sunday.
Clearly, the call to discipleship of Jesus is a radical one. Jesus is our all in all. Nothing else should take precedence. I recall one of our SE-2 classmate who entered the seminary and eventually became a priest two years ago, Fr. Kliff Gavina. During his ordination, Fr. Kliff recounted the question his bishop asked him a few days before he became a priest. “Kliff, do you love God,” his bishop asked. “Why, of course, bishop, I have chosen to be a priest,” Fr. Kliff replied. “Do you love God enough for you to give up your priesthood,” the bishop asked this time. Fr. Kliff was puzzled. The bishop explained, “Loving God is our most important task, and all else is second.”
Clearly also, Jesus is not anti-family. Later on, in this same gospel (Matthew 15:4 and following), Jesus defends the commandment of “honor your father and mother” and criticizes the Hebrews for creating loopholes for being exempted from this commandment.
Perhaps, a closer look at this gospel can reveal another facet that can guide us in our walk towards discipleship.
In the verse “he who loves father or mother more than me,” the Greek word used for love is philei, which is different from the Greek word used for love in the verse “you should love your neighbor,” which is agapan. Philei is used by Matthew in a pejorative sense, as in “to attach oneself to,” or “to take one’s pleasure in this or that” as in the following verses also found in Matthew: “when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues so that others may see them,” (Mt 6:5) or in “they love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues” (Mt 23:6).
Jesus is therefore not against loving one’s family, but against being attached to them, even to the extent of violating the values of the Kingdom of God. When one, for example, protects and harbors a family member who has violated the law and done wrong to others, then that person is not worthy of being a disciple.
We believe there’s another message in this gospel that is apt in our celebration of Family Day. While Jesus does not want wrongful attachment to the family to get in the way of discipleship, he wants our families to be our home base in our service for the Kingdom. In 1 Timothy 3, St. Paul requires that the leaders of the church be one who manages his family well.
Our families become our refuge as well as our source of inspiration for service. But a family does not just become a home base. We make it a home base, so that it is a refuge and source of inspiration for our other members. We do this through the spoken word that encourages one another, the meaningful touch that comforts everyone, the high value that we place on family as shown by our presence – both quantity and quality time, and the vision of the future that we share with our children and our parents.
Tonight, we will pray for our families, our home bases. The choice is not between family or discipleship. It is not “either or” it is “and.” Our family helps us in our walk of being Jesus’ disciple and, as a disciple, we build families of little churches which become glimpses of God’s eternal reign.
Matt 10:37-42
37 "Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me;
38 and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.
39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
40 "He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives the one who sent me.
41 Anyone who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and anyone who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man's reward.
42 And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward."
(NIV)
The gospel this Sunday talks about those “who love father or mother more than me” as not being worthy disciples of Jesus. It is not true, by the way, that this is the battle cry of the Singles Apostolate, and the perennial excuse used by them to leave their families and attend apostolate activities. But it does seem ironic that this gospel would follow the wonderful Family Day celebration that we just had last Sunday.
Clearly, the call to discipleship of Jesus is a radical one. Jesus is our all in all. Nothing else should take precedence. I recall one of our SE-2 classmate who entered the seminary and eventually became a priest two years ago, Fr. Kliff Gavina. During his ordination, Fr. Kliff recounted the question his bishop asked him a few days before he became a priest. “Kliff, do you love God,” his bishop asked. “Why, of course, bishop, I have chosen to be a priest,” Fr. Kliff replied. “Do you love God enough for you to give up your priesthood,” the bishop asked this time. Fr. Kliff was puzzled. The bishop explained, “Loving God is our most important task, and all else is second.”
Clearly also, Jesus is not anti-family. Later on, in this same gospel (Matthew 15:4 and following), Jesus defends the commandment of “honor your father and mother” and criticizes the Hebrews for creating loopholes for being exempted from this commandment.
Perhaps, a closer look at this gospel can reveal another facet that can guide us in our walk towards discipleship.
In the verse “he who loves father or mother more than me,” the Greek word used for love is philei, which is different from the Greek word used for love in the verse “you should love your neighbor,” which is agapan. Philei is used by Matthew in a pejorative sense, as in “to attach oneself to,” or “to take one’s pleasure in this or that” as in the following verses also found in Matthew: “when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues so that others may see them,” (Mt 6:5) or in “they love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues” (Mt 23:6).
Jesus is therefore not against loving one’s family, but against being attached to them, even to the extent of violating the values of the Kingdom of God. When one, for example, protects and harbors a family member who has violated the law and done wrong to others, then that person is not worthy of being a disciple.
We believe there’s another message in this gospel that is apt in our celebration of Family Day. While Jesus does not want wrongful attachment to the family to get in the way of discipleship, he wants our families to be our home base in our service for the Kingdom. In 1 Timothy 3, St. Paul requires that the leaders of the church be one who manages his family well.
Our families become our refuge as well as our source of inspiration for service. But a family does not just become a home base. We make it a home base, so that it is a refuge and source of inspiration for our other members. We do this through the spoken word that encourages one another, the meaningful touch that comforts everyone, the high value that we place on family as shown by our presence – both quantity and quality time, and the vision of the future that we share with our children and our parents.
Tonight, we will pray for our families, our home bases. The choice is not between family or discipleship. It is not “either or” it is “and.” Our family helps us in our walk of being Jesus’ disciple and, as a disciple, we build families of little churches which become glimpses of God’s eternal reign.
Matt 10:37-42
37 "Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me;
38 and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.
39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
40 "He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives the one who sent me.
41 Anyone who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and anyone who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man's reward.
42 And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward."
(NIV)
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