
To-day we have three short parables – a treasure hidden in the field, a merchant finding a pearl and a net cast into the sea. All of them are descriptions of the Kingdom of God. We saw last week that this means the Church.
As before, the parables are very simple. They are taught in the outdoors to big crowds. The message is for those who have ears to hear.
Working from the last to the first, the net cast into the sea explains an aspect of the church that we are very familiar with. The church is full of good fish, but it also can contain bad fish. Jesus’ warning in the Parable is simply this: it is not our work to sort out the good from the bad. It is the job of the Fisherman, the Lord. The punch line of the parable is simply: do not judge others. Mind your own business.
The merchant who finds a pearl of great price is clearly Jesus Christ who paid a great price for the church, the people of God. He has given his life on the Cross.
Again, the treasure hidden in the field is an image of the Church. What we said about the pearl also applies here.
Parables are simple, but they can be applied many ways. For example, each one of us can be the treasure hidden in the field or the pearl of great price. A great price has been paid for me. This is my Salvation History. I am redeemed, paid for by the precious Blood of Jesus. I am priceless!
The parables are simple but profound. They are meant to bring us to commitment. A good story teller will bring stories from the storeroom, both new and old. This is how a scribe becomes a disciple.