Contemporary Scripture Reflections for Spiritual Seekers

Dr. Elizabeth-Anne Stewart, BCC, PCC

www.elizabeth-annestewart.com

Jesus answered, "My Kingdom does not belong to this world." Jn 18:36

Pilate may very well have assumed that Jesus was talking about a kingdom in a different geographical reality -- a kingdom in an unknown corner of the desert or in another planet up in the heavens. Certainly, Christians have often tended to regard the reign of God as a physical reality in a different place; often, in times of loss and hardship, those who believe in the afterlife have take comfort in the idea of a heavenly realm in which there is neither death, nor suffering, nor separation from loved ones. This belief in a "better place" has given courage to the infirm, the imprisoned, the marginalized, and the brutalized; at the same time, it has created a piety in which it is "alright" to neglect the world we live in because we need to focus on the world to come. Such a perspective creates an unhealthy world view based on disdain for the physical universe.

While I believe the reign of God has a future tense dimension, I also believe we are called to build the Kingdom in the here and now by living as Jesus lived. Whether or not there is a "better place" is a matter of faith, but our task as Christians is to "better" the world we live in --to cherish this world, to protect its air and waters, to safeguard its people and creatures, to tend to the environment, to repair the damage done in the name of progress, to restore humanitarian values to a world obsessed with what Pope John Paul II described as a "culture of death."

Wherever we look, the planet itself seems to be groaning -- and much more loudly than at the time St. Paul was writing (Rom 8:22). Our planet groans from pollution, from the wanton destruction of natural habitats, from the extinction of species... It writhes under warfare, genocide, the displacement of refugees, the proliferation of weaponry... It groans from poverty, from ignorance, from sexism, from racism, from the exploitation and abuse of

children, and from myriad other ailments, too innumerable to mention. Because of human folly, Mother Earth is in agony, suffering intensely because of our lack of care, laboring hard to give birth to a new world order of love, peace and justice.

How can we ease her pain?

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION

* If God were to invite you to name any gift you could desire, what would you ask for?

* Where do you find the Kingdom of God in your life?

* What situations block you from experiencing the Kingdom of God in the here and now?

* How do YOU interpret the parables in today's Gospel?

What does this box hold for YOU?

SCRIPTURE REFLECTION

Link to the Sunday Readings

Jesus said to his disciples:

"The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field, which a person finds, hides again, and then, out of joy goes and sells everything 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 everything and buys it. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net 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.

Mt 13:44-52

"Where your treasure is, there also

will your heart be." Mt 6:21

Three parables, two central messages. Both The Treasure Buried in the Field and The Pearl of Great Price are based on the premise that the Kingdom of God is worth EVERYTHING-- that, in other words, there is nothing in this world comparable in value, whether this be a treasure or a priceless pearl. Moving beyond metaphors, this means that nothing we aspire to, or own, or desire can match the supreme advantage of belonging to God's Kingdom. Like worldly investors, we must constantly be on the lookout for this best of bargains. The man who buys the field is strategic in his thinking. Shrewd and calculating, he finds the treasure, buries it again and then purchases the field without revealing what it contains. In this way, he avoids having to deal with rival bidders or having the owners of the field change their minds about selling their property. As for the merchant in search of a fine pearl, there is no subterfuge here; rather, he knows what he wants and goes after it, regardless of the cost. He finds the pearl precisely because he is so specific about his intentions, most likely using his connections to track down what his heart desires.

The third parable has a different emphasis. Here, it is the Kingdom that goes in search of treasure -- the "catch" of the day, if you will, meaning humanity. "They" (God or the angels?) cast the net and "they" haul in the catch, ready to sort the good from the bad, the righteous from the wicked. In this parable, the "treasure" are those who love God. The "good fish" end up in God's bucket, while the bad ones are tossed away as useless. Like the man who purchases the field with buried treasure, God is strategic; like the merchant in search of the finest pearl, God is discriminating and wants only the best.

The Kingdom of God, then, belongs to those who seek it, hunger for it, and are willing to stake everything for it. It belongs neither to those who are indifferent nor to those who lack passion; nor can it be "home" to those who are devoted only to themselves and their own comfort and aggrandizement. But if this interpretation of Jesus' message seems self-evident, we can also approach the first two parables from a different perspective. What if each of us already possesses the buried treasure and the pearl of great price? What if we already own that which we seek and hunger for? What if the Kingdom is already above us, beneath us, to the side of us -- but we fail to see it? What must we do to open our eyes and experience the gift that is and was and will be? How can we wake up from our apathy, our melancholy and our negativity to BEHOLD the presence of the Holy One in our midst? The Kingdom of God is indeed like a buried treasure precisely because we bury it in our own forgetfulness. We don't need to purchase a field to find it; rather, we need to start digging wherever we are, in whatever circumstance-- and, if we do, we will be surprised with joy beyond all imagining!

SPIRITUAL DIRECTION &

LIFE COACHING



This video explains my approach to this ministry, while my website provides further details as well. Most sessions are on Zoom; I am also available to facilitate in-person or "virtual" retreats for groups and individuals.

Spiritual Direction

Dr. Elizabeth-Anne Stewart | www.elizabeth-annestewart.com | e.a.stewart@sbcglobal.net

C. All Photos by Elizabeth-Anne Stewart, www.artfulphotographer.com