God, Our Greatest Treasure

Dear Friends,

In 2015, Cardinal Robert Sarah published a book with a striking title: God or Nothing. Many people wondered why he chose such a radical title.

Cardinal Sarah explains that the title summarizes the lesson he learned growing up in a small village in Guinea. His family possessed very little in material terms. They were not wealthy, influential, or powerful. Yet they possessed something many richer people did not have: a profound faith in God. Looking back on his childhood and priestly life, he came to a simple but profound conclusion: if a person has God, he lacks nothing essential. But if he loses God, no amount of wealth or success can fill that emptiness. Hence the title: God or Nothing.

At first sight, the title may sound exaggerated, yet today’s Gospel shows that this is not merely Cardinal Sarah’s idea. It is the very message Jesus teaches through the parables of the hidden treasure and the pearl of great price.

The Parable of The Hidden Treasure and the Pearl

For two Sundays, we have been going through parables given by Jesus. Today, He speaks about a man who unexpectedly discovers a treasure hidden in a field. In His days, Jewish people buried their valuables during wars or invasions because there were no banks or storage units as we have today. Sometimes the owner died or never returned, leaving the treasure hidden for years. Someone else might then stumble on their treasure. The one who discovered the treasure had to sell all that he had and possess the treasure. Though he was not searching for treasure. Yet when he discovered it, everything changed. Jesus says, “In his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.“ We should notice something important. Jesus does not say the man sold everything reluctantly. He sold everything with joy. The land where the treasure was discovered does not belong to him; he has to sell all that he has to possess it. This is because he understood that compared to the treasure, everything else was of lesser value.

The second parable tells of a merchant searching for fine pearls. Unlike the first man, this merchant was actively searching. He knows the pearls exist and has to put in all his energy to get them. When he found one pearl of exceptional value, he also sold everything to possess it. These are two people with different journeys in life. One finds unexpectedly. The other searches intentionally. But both arrive at the same conclusion. We may discover God in the ordinary events of life even when we have not set out to find Him. Again, we can discover God through active search, as devout Christians. Nothing compares with the treasure we will have when we find Him. 

Why is the Treasure God?

At this point, someone may ask an important question. Jesus says the treasure is “the Kingdom of Heaven.” Why then are we saying that the treasure is God Himself? To answer that question, we first need to understand what Jesus means by the Kingdom of Heaven. At first glance, Jesus seems to tell us that the treasure is the Kingdom of Heaven. Every one of these parables begins with the words: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like…”We should note carefully that Jesus does not say, “Heaven is like,” or “Eternal life is like.” He says, “The Kingdom of Heaven is like…” So, we must first understand what Jesus means by the Kingdom of Heaven.

The expression “the Kingdom of heaven” was used more in the gospel of Matthew than “the Kingdom of God” used in the gospel of Luke or Mark. Both expressions mean exactly the same reality. Matthew used the Kingdom of heaven because he was mainly addressing the Jews, who, out of reverence, avoided pronouncing the sacred name of God. Instead of saying “God,” they frequently used expressions such as “Heaven.” Therefore, when they say “Kingdom of Heaven,” it is the same as the “Kingdom of God.”

So “Kingdom” in the Gospel does not refer to a place, either here or hereafter. If the Kingdom is not simply a place, then what is it? The Kingdom is God’s reign, God’s rule, God’s saving presence, and God’s life breaking into the world through Jesus Christ. The Kingdom is primarily an environment, a set of relationships and a situation where God’s values prevail. Where God is welcomed as King, His Kingdom is present. Where Christ reigns in a human heart, the Kingdom has already begun. The treasure is not simply a place called heaven. The treasure is life under God’s reign, a living relationship with God Himself. That is why the Kingdom is priceless. It is priceless because it gives us God. If the Kingdom of God is the greatest treasure, then each of us must ask a personal question.

What is your Treasure?

Every human being is searching for treasure. The question is not whether we are searching. The question is what we are searching for. Some spend their lives pursuing money or power. Some pursue popularity. Others chase academic success, social media fame, pleasure, beauty, influence, or political authority. None of these things is evil in itself. Money is good, because it enables us to provide for our families, educate our children, help the poor, support the Church, and promote the common good.

Success is good, because it is often the fruit of hard work, discipline, and the responsible use of the talents God has entrusted to us. Success becomes dangerous only when it inflates our ego and makes us believe that we no longer need God. Education is also good, because it enlarges the mind, forms our judgment, develops our talents, and enables us to contribute positively to the Church and society. Family is a priceless blessing, because it is the first school of love, faith, sacrifice, and socialization. It is within the family that we first learn what it means to give, receive love, and forgive another. Yet even our love for family must never take precedence over our love for God, who is the giver of every family.

Health is precious; without it, we find it difficult to work, serve others, and enjoy life. We rightly pray for good health and take care of our bodies, which are temples of the Holy Spirit. Yet even perfect health cannot prevent death or give eternal life. We could add many other things. All these are good gifts, but they are not the greatest good. The problem is not that we possess these things. The problem begins when these things possess us. When we allow God’s gifts to take the place of God Himself, we turn blessings into idols. Why do these good things fail to satisfy us completely? St. Augustine reminds us that every human heart longs for infinite happiness. Yet we often expect finite things to satisfy an infinite desire. That is impossible. No amount of wealth can completely satisfy the human heart. No promotion can eliminate loneliness. No success can remove the fear of death. No pleasure can give lasting peace. This explains why some of the wealthiest and most famous people in the world still struggle with emptiness. They have accumulated many treasures, but they have not found the greatest Treasure.

God alone is our greatest Treasure

The Catechism tells us that  “The desire for God is written in the human heart, because man is created by God and for God.” (CCC 27). For this reason, our hearts keep seeking that which satisfies them. No finite good can quench this desire because every finite good points beyond itself. Only the Infinite can satisfy the desire for the infinite.  That is why Solomon, in today’s first reading, did not ask for riches, military victories, or long life. He asked instead for a listening and discerning heart. Because he knew that if he sought God’s wisdom first, everything else would find its proper place. Solomon understood that the greatest gift was not wealth but the Giver of wisdom Himself. He understood that if he possessed God, everything else would find its proper place. St. Paul says the same in the second reading: “We know that all things work together for good for those who love God.” Paul does not promise that Christians will possess everything they desire. He promises something greater: Those who possess God will discover that even suffering is transformed into a path toward eternal glory.

Dear friends, Every day we reveal our treasure by the choices we make. Where do I spend my time? What occupies my thoughts? What do I sacrifice for? What causes me the greatest anxiety? What would I find hardest to lose? Jesus told us in the Sermon on the Mount, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Mtt 6:21). Perhaps that is the best examination of conscience. Where is my heart? If my greatest treasure is wealth, my heart will remain in the bank. If my greatest treasure is reputation, my heart will remain in people’s opinions. If my greatest treasure is Christ, my heart will remain with Him.

The man in the parable sold everything because he had found something greater. The merchant sold everything because he found the pearl of incomparable value. Likewise, every Christian who truly discovers Christ realizes that he has found Someone infinitely more precious than everything this world can offer. That is the invitation Jesus gives each of us today. He is not asking us to despise the good things of this world. He is asking us to love nothing more than God. For everything we possess in this world will one day pass away. Only one treasure remains forever. Only one treasure can never be stolen. Only one treasure satisfies the deepest hunger of the human heart. That treasure is God Himself.  So let us ask ourselves today: What is my greatest treasure? May we have the courage to answer with our lives: God or nothing is my greatest treasure. Amen.    Happy Sunday!