The Gospel for today speaks of finding a treasure or a “pearl of great price.” The finder has to recognize it as such. And then keep the knowledge to himself, at least for a while. He relinquishes everything he has to possess the treasure. He lets go of everything else to take hold of the thing of which he can say, “This is what I have been looking for.” His joy when he has obtained it is immense.
Today is the 17th death anniversary of my father. Though he had a successful career in government, his marriage and his family were the center of his life. They were the treasure for which he had given all.
Our Community also recently marked the fifth anniversary of the death of our Foundress, Mother Rosemae Pender, FSE. She risked everything to secure what she knew to be the essentials of religious life. And this process led to the formation of a new religious community nearly 50 years ago. For Mother Rosemae, the “pearl of great price” was the gift of religious life and the evangelical counsels, lived out in a loving community with care and concern for everyone encountered.
Meaningful Relationship, a Treasure
For people today, true and meaningful relationship is a treasure they seek, “like a merchant searching for fine pearls.” Yet for many of us the treasure proves elusive. Our culture promotes a multitude of ways of relating that are not healthy. They do not lead to lasting relationships. Perhaps we accept these limitations without even realizing it. Maybe we fail to see the opportunities for relationship with the person in front of us. Possibly we miss the chance to possess the “pearl of great price” because we are not ready to do what is needed to obtain it. We do not understand that at the end of our lives our treasure will lie in the good we have done. And the relationships to which we have given ourselves.
My father’s faith was very important to him. And he worked at it and at practicing charity all of his life. Mother Rosemae loved our Community and the Church and her eyes were always turned toward God. The ultimate relationship, the ultimate treasure is relationship with God. It is this of which Jesus speaks in this parable. The treasure or the pearl are in the end only images for what is most important, relationship with the Father through Christ. May all of us recognize and do all we can to hold onto this pearl!
[Readings: Ex 34:29-35 ; Ps 99:5,6,7,9; Mt 13:44-46]
Her educational background is very impressive. Her response to relationships is very eye opening and informative.