Reflection
B(irth) - C(hoice) - D(eath)
Matthew 13:44-52, 1 Kings 3:5-9, 1 Kings 3:10-12, Romans 8:28-30, John 3:16, Joshua 24:15, Matthew 6:33.
Dear sisters and brothers,
We all know the English alphabets A to Z.
Do you know what comes between B & D?
It is C.
Yes, we know that between B and D, we have C.
Applying this concept to our life, we can say that from ‘birth’ to ‘death’, we make many ‘choices’.
These choices, in our lives, are made with certain needs and wants.
Our choice can bring success or failure.
Our choice can bring happiness or sadness.
Our choice can make us or break us.
Our choice can bring peace or war.
Our choice can make us to win or lose.
Choice is the important thing in all our lives.
Choice is not made suddenly.
Choice is not made in a moment.
There is a process in choosing something or someone.
Choice has no choice.
We have to make choices in our lives to make our life journey more fruitful and meaningful as King Solomon did (1 Kings 3:5-9):
“The LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream at night.
God said, “Ask something of me and I will give it to you.”
Solomon answered:
“O LORD, my God, you have made me, your servant, king
to succeed my father David;
but I am a mere youth, not knowing at all how to act.
I serve you in the midst of the people whom you have chosen,
a people so vast that it cannot be numbered or counted.
Give your servant, therefore, an understanding heart
to judge your people and to distinguish right from wrong.
For who is able to govern this vast people of yours?”
The LORD was pleased with Solomon’s choice.
At the same time, we have priorities in our lives.
In the process of choosing something or someone, we prioritise what is important and what is not important depending on our priorities of life.
Priority has to clarify and purify the choice that we make.
Jesus called us like he called his disciples during his earthly life.
And we live his teachings: love and forgiveness as we read:
“As for me and my household, we will serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:15).
It is the grace of God that which brought me to Jesus as his disciple (1 Kings 3:10-12):
“The LORD was pleased that Solomon made this request.
So God said to him:
“Because you have asked for this—
not for a long life for yourself,
nor for riches,
nor for the life of your enemies,
but for understanding so that you may know what is right—
I do as you requested.
I give you a heart so wise and understanding
that there has never been anyone like you up to now,
and after you there will come no one to equal you.”
God grants when we make the right choice in our lives for his glory and for his kingdom.
I repeat again not for my self-glory and not for my kingdom.
As a disciple of Jesus Christ, my first priority is to seek the Kingdom of God/heaven:
“But seek first the kingdom [of God]
and his righteousness,
and all these things will be given you besides” (Matthew 6:33).
With this initial introduction, let us listen to the text from the Gospel of Matthew (Matthew 13:44-52), where Jesus speaks to his disciples about the Kingdom of Heaven:
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.
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net thrown into the sea,
which collects fish of every kind.
When it is full they haul it ashore
and sit down to put what is good into buckets.
What is bad they throw away.
Thus it will be at the end of the age.
The angels will go out and separate the wicked from the righteous
and throw them into the fiery furnace,
where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.
“Do you understand all these things?”
They answered, “Yes.”
And he replied,
“Then every scribe who has been instructed in the kingdom of heaven
is like the head of a household
who brings from his storeroom both the new and the old.”
In the text, we read that Jesus instructs his disciples about the Kingdom of Heaven/God.
Jesus instructs his disciples.
It is not the random crowd.
Jesus focuses on the disciples.
He has chosen those disciples for the greater glory of God.
He has chosen for a purpose.
What was the purpose?
The purpose is to proclaim the Gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven/God.
Jesus is very clear about his purpose.
He set his priority.
He chose.
Now, Jesus instructs the priority for his disciples’ life and mission.
Let us closely look at each and every detail of instructions of Jesus to his disciples.
1. A Treasure:
A treasure is like the Kingdom of Heaven/God.
A treasure is priceless.
We, as disciples of Jesus Christ, need to possess his love by being with him and experience his love intimately by getting rid of all that hinders us joyfully.
2. A Merchant:
The Kingdom of Heaven/God is like a merchant.
A merchant sells everything that he possesses to buy pearls.
A merchant, who trades for money, does find temporary happiness in making as much as money he can in his life.
In addition, he loses his life as we read in the Gospel of Matthew (Matthew 16:26):
“What profit would there be
for one to gain the whole world
and forfeit his life?
Or what can one give
in exchange for his life?”
In the same way, a disciple, who has experienced the love of Jesus, the author and origin of love, in his life, does not stop there just with love experience,
but,
he shares same love with others for the benefit of himself and also for the benefit of others.
In this way, a disciple not only proclaims the mission that is given to him but also gains his soul.
Love becomes more meaningful when it is shared... God shared his love with us in and through Jesus Christ.
Before I go further into my reflection, I would like to explain the important sentence that Jesus says in both (a treasure and a merchant):
Both a person, who found a treasure and a merchant, who found pearls:
‘go and sell all that they have and buy them (field, pearls)’.
Do we remember this sentence elsewhere in the Gospel of Matthew?
Yes, we remember in Gospel of Matthew (Matthew 19:21-24), Jesus says to the rich young man:
“Jesus said to him,
“If you wish to be perfect,
go, sell what you have and give to [the] poor,
and you will have treasure in heaven.
Then come, follow me.”
When the young man heard this statement,
he went away sad,
for he had many possessions.
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Amen, I say to you,
it will be hard for one
who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven.
Again I say to you,
it is easier for a camel
to pass through the eye of a needle
than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”
Jesus particularly repeats the same sentiment here that his true disciples joyfully give up all that hinders to possess the Kingdom of Love in their life, not only the disciples give up everything that hinders them to possess the Kingdom of Heaven/God, but also the disciples find meaning in their life and save their souls for Jesus alone.
It is very much evident in a person, who found a treasure and a merchant, who found pearls.
Both sell everything joyfully what they have.
Are we ready to give up everything in order to possess the Kingdom of Love in Jesus so that we may become true disciples of Jesus Christ in our lives?
Having said this, let us move on to the next.
3. A Net:
The Kingdom of Heaven/God is like a net.
It is a fishing net, which hauls everything that comes into it.
We need to say yes to Jesus’ call...we need to believe in him.
By this, we become part of his Kingdom of love.
“We know that all things work for good for those who love God,
who are called according to his purpose.
For those he foreknew he also predestined
to be conformed to the image of his Son,
so that he might be the firstborn
among many brothers and sisters.
And those he predestined he also called;
and those he called he also justified;
and those he justified he also glorified” (Romans 8:28-30).
He will never turn away from us when we are in his love and share his love with all.
He called us.
He chose us.
He has given us our priority.
Are we ready to say “YES” to be glorified in His Kingdom with our own brokenness believing in His infinite and eternal love and witnessing as his disciples in the world?
May the Heart of Jesus live in the hearts of all. Amen...
