The Kingdom Of Heaven

 Reflection on Today's Readings, Wednesday of 17th Week in Ordinary Time, Year 1, July 28th, 2021
Reflecting on today's readings, what caught my attention in the gospel reading was the manner in which the treasure was found. The reading shows that the man who found the treasure stumbled on it; he was not expecting to see it. This shows that it is by God's grace that we discover the kingdom of heaven; it is God directs and guides us in finding it. It is said, _"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up"_ It is God Himself who reveals the kingdom of heaven to us; we cannot discover it by our reasoning alone. We need to pray God to make us aware of the value of the kingdom of heaven. Whoever is aware of the value of the kingdom of heaven will be ready to give it what it takes to possesss it. Hence, it is said, _"then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field."_ The parable also shows that the kingdom of heaven is hidden and as such we have to seek God's grace to discover it. Some of us are yet to discover the kingdom of heaven and so we are unable to give it what it takes to have it. Today we are reminded to pray fervently that we may discover the kingdom so as to be able to give it our all, that we may possess it.
The second parable of the kingdom of heaven reminds us that the kingdom of heaven is not only a state but also a person. It is said,  _“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls"_ The kingdom is like the merchant, not the pearl he searched for. The emphasis is on person, the merchant, not the pearl. Kingdom of heaven, as a state, is where God is present; as a person is whoever manifest the glory of God. This reminds us of Moses, in today's first reading, who manifested the glory of God. It is said, in the first reading, _"When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, with the two tables of the covenant in his hand as he came down from the mountain Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God."_ To be the kingdom of heaven is to always be in the presence of God, to always communicate with Him in prayer. We communicate with God in prayer when our hearts are with Him. Our hearts are always with Him when we always do His will. Hence, today's psalm says, " _Among his priests were Aaron and Moses; among those who invoked his name was Samuel. They cried out to the Lord and he answered. To them he spoke in the pillar of cloud. They obeyed his decrees and the statutes, which he had given them."_  
Those who are the kingdom of heaven always search for God. God is the fine pearl that one searches for with all that one has. Hence, Jesus tells us thus: _"Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind"_ (Mtt. 22:37; cf. Deut. 6:4-5). The heart of one who is the kingdom of heaven longs for God and is restless until it rests in God. The experience of such person is captured in the words of the psalm: _"Whom have I in heaven but You? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth"_ (73:25). As children of God, we are to manifest the glory of God on earth and be the kingdom of heaven here and now; we are to manifest  the kingdom of heaven on earth and so fulfil the prayer of our Lord, _"Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as in heaven"_ (Mtt. 6:10).

Lord our God, help us to discover the kingdom of heaven, that we may love You with our whole hearts and so manifest Your glory on earth and by so doing fulfil the kingdom of heaven. Amen.

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke