Brothers and sisters,

In today’s Gospel, Jesus gives us two very short but powerful parables. Both are about discovery — and both are about joy.

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field…”
“The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls…”

In each case, someone finds something so valuable, so precious, that they’re willing to sell everything they have to obtain it. That’s how Jesus describes the Kingdom of God.

Let’s look at each image.

Imagine you’re walking across a field and suddenly trip over something buried just beneath the surface. You dig a little… and find treasure. Not just a few coins, but something so valuable that you’d gladly sell everything you own just to buy that one field.

That’s what the Gospel says: “In his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.”

Notice that — in his joy. He’s not grumbling or complaining. He’s not thinking, “Well, I suppose I’d better be holy then.” No—he’s thrilled! He’s found something worth more than anything else.

And Jesus says: that’s what discovering God is like.

When we truly encounter the love of Christ—when we realise we’re known, forgiven, wanted by God—we’re willing to give up other things, not out of fear, but out of joy. Because we’ve found what our heart was looking for.

Then Jesus tells a second parable: the merchant searching for pearls. This isn’t accidental stumbling—this man is looking.

And when he finds the one pearl worth more than all the others, he sells everything to have it.

Some of us discover the faith like that merchant. We’ve searched. We’ve questioned. We’ve studied, wrestled, maybe wandered through other worldviews or churches. But then Christ shines through, and we see: He is the pearl of great price.

Whether we stumble across the treasure or search for the pearl, the result is the same: joy, and a wholehearted response.

Both men in these parables give everything to gain the treasure. That challenges us.

Because we often want the treasure without the cost. We want the Kingdom, but we hesitate to let go of the little attachments—comforts, sins, grudges, pride, distractions—that keep our hands full.

But Jesus is clear: we can’t keep our junk and hold the treasure. We have to choose.

Now this doesn’t mean everyone must sell their house and live in a cave. But it does mean reordering our lives so that God comes first—and everything else finds its proper place in relation to Him.

It’s important to remember: the man in the Gospel doesn’t give up everything because he’s forced to. He does it with joy.

That’s the difference between a rule-based religion and the Gospel. God doesn’t demand we “give up everything” just to test us. He calls us to let go of lesser things so that He can give us something greater.

The saints weren’t miserable because they followed Christ. They were full of joy because they had found the One who gives life meaning.

There’s a little tradition among the saints of seeing these parables fulfilled in the Eucharist.

The treasure in the field? The pearl of great price? That’s Jesus Himself—hidden under the appearance of bread and wine. Quiet, small, easily overlooked. But full of divine power and grace.

And every time we come to Mass, we are walking into that field. We’re invited to rediscover the treasure. To hold it again. And to ask: Is Christ truly my greatest joy? What am I still holding onto?

So today, as we hear this Gospel, let’s pray for fresh eyes. Whether we stumbled into the faith like the man in the field, or searched for years like the merchant, Jesus is offering Himself to us again.

Let’s not hesitate. Let’s not cling to what cannot last.
Let’s ask the Lord to help us see the treasure—and to choose it with joy.