Ordinary Time

Pause

What would our world look like if it were everything God intends? Peace, understanding, comfort, satisfaction, true abundance for everyone—everywhere?

Maybe something like that.

We might never see it in our lifetimes. But in the meantime, there is this place and this moment. The kingdom is keen to break in.

Listen

"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it."

Matthew 13:45–46

Think

Another “finding” parable. In this one, a merchant who buys and sells pearls one day is shown an especially valuable pearl—probably large, with great color and clarity. Like the person who finds the treasure in the field, the merchant sells everything to own the pearl. The end.

Wait! We want to know what the finders did with what they bought. Did the merchant resell the pearl and make a fortune? Did the treasure-in-the-field person share the treasure or keep it all? How did they live after selling everything else to buy the one very valuable thing?

Here’s where you get to complete the story. If you have given yourself completely to God, accepting God’s rule over your life and agreeing to go, to be, and to do as God directs, then you have the treasure. What will you do with it? Will you keep it locked safely away; or will you throw a party and share it?

Richard Vinson

Pray

Dear God, I accept your rule over me. Help me to live and enjoy this treasure every day! Amen.

Go

Maybe it’s not just a romantic notion. The kingdom comes in things that are very small, but that can become something great; something worth giving everything you have to be part of it.

The kingdom is something fine, worth more than we can imagine. And it is worth all the more when we share what we know about it, though we will never understand it completely.

Go now to give it all away.