Mt 13:44-52
Jesus said to his disciples:
“The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field,
which a person finds and hides again,
and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant
searching for fine pearls.
When he finds a pearl of great price,
he goes and sells all that he has and buys it.”

Time and Space
Recently my daily prayer has been a little bumpy. I haven’t been as regular and consistent as is my pattern. This morning I got up and gave myself enough time and inner space to pray. As I eased myself back into the familiar pattern I was once again amazed at the hidden treasure of prayer.

I don’t know what it is like for others, but sometimes I create a prayer experience that feels like one of those fast forward rosaries said at wakes. I can say at the end of the rosary that I touched all of the beads and said all of the prayers expected of me, but I can’t say that I experienced God’s peace at the end of it. I would imagine for the prayerfully fit, they are able to do the fast forward rosary and feel God’s peace. I am not there yet.

Sometimes when my morning prayer is bumpy it mirrors that kind of experience. I light the candle, ring the bell, and say the prayer, but I have left out room for God’s presence. I have forgotten that breathing with the words and the intention helps me to be present in such a way that I seem to meet God with greater depth.

In the gospel for July 27th, Jesus uses parables to describe the kingdom of heaven. He likens it to finding a treasure in a field or a merchant in search of fine pearls. In both cases the seeker gives all that she/he has in order to purchase the sought after treasure.

I don’t know how long the seeker looked for the treasure or how long the merchant sought the fine pearls. However, I do know from the gospel that both gave up all that they had in order to obtain what they were seeking. Jesus invites us to seek the riches of the kingdom of heaven each day.

Where might this hidden treasure or pearl of great price be waiting for us today? Perhaps like my experience of prayer, I only need to slow down so that I might see it when it presents itself.