In today's gospel, a man finds a "treasure buried in a field" and buys the field, a merchant finds a "pearl of great price" and sells all he has to buy it. Here the treasure is the Kingdom of Heaven. As so many of the gospels, this has surprising layers.
First, both treasures are obtained through the sale of earthly goods; they are purchased. Is this a sacrifice or is the world a means to the heavenly end? It certainly is not unearned.
Secondly, there is a provincial element--to the first story, at least. It was common for people during war at the time of Christ to hide their valuables by burying them in fields with the hope of having the invaders miss the trove and allowing the original owner to return and reclaim it. The first treasure seems to be such a treasure, a treasure previously owned and lost or hidden only to be found later by another. What could that mean?
First, both treasures are obtained through the sale of earthly goods; they are purchased. Is this a sacrifice or is the world a means to the heavenly end? It certainly is not unearned.
Secondly, there is a provincial element--to the first story, at least. It was common for people during war at the time of Christ to hide their valuables by burying them in fields with the hope of having the invaders miss the trove and allowing the original owner to return and reclaim it. The first treasure seems to be such a treasure, a treasure previously owned and lost or hidden only to be found later by another. What could that mean?
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