About treasure in the field-

God knows man well and knows that mystery and suddenness inspires our admiration, interest and curiosity. We are always pleased with what we only find after a long search. Therefore, Jesus also compared the acquisition of the Kingdom of God to a hidden treasure in the field. “The kingdom of heaven resembles a treasure hidden in a field. When a man finds him, he hides him and comes from joy, sells what he has, and buys the field ”(Mt 13,44). The kingdom of heaven is the greatest treasure we can gain in our lifetime. It has immense price and value. The treasure in this case is an expression of this value. It is found randomly, not in its own field, but in a stranger. The man who found him did everything he could to buy this field. He is willing to give up everything he has just to get it.

This short parable is not only a theoretical illustration of the price of salvation, but also an exhortation to draw personal consequences for knowing the value of salvation and to strive for salvation certainly. With the same effort that the poor peasant has made to gain the treasure, the Christian is also to focus his efforts on salvation. Salvation is to be the focal point of desires, thoughts and work, for it gives us the most valuable treasures: God’s son ship, the right to eternal life, the profound sense of earthly pains and joys, certainty against all life problems, peace of heart and love in the purest form … attaining this treasure is no sacrifice and effort.

Martyrs and devotees, from the Roman catacombs to the present day, show us a proper understanding of this parable of Christ. They all sacrificed life, property, family happiness, homeland, career, vocation, and goodwill for the kingdom of God.

In the biography of Edith Stein, a convert from Judaism, a Carmelite who was murdered by the Germans in Auschwitz, we find an interesting story. In Frankfurt, Edith met her girlfriend. They decided to explore the city. They were most impressed by the cathedral. And there is a characteristic thing: not the beauty of architecture, sculpture and paintings has remained in their memory, but an abandoned woman immersed in prayer. For Edith, this was the first revelation of God present in Catholic temples. “For me it was something completely new. I will never forget that…”

Years later, Edith Stein associates her conversion and vocation with the prayer of the unknown, simple woman. For her, too, God was a hidden treasure in the field. When we read a novel, we want it to end well … But there is no more important novel in the world than the one we write our own lives. For our life to end well, we must seek and find its true value – eternal salvation. For this, we must sacrifice even the greatest values.

In the Book of Glory by English writer B. Marshal, canoeist Dulfy says: “We don’t think we will wake up once and be in heaven!” Heaven – it’s not something that is given for free. We must be willing to pay something for it. The Kingdom of Heaven is not given for free. Nor can it be stolen. However, it can be bought. And because it is the highest value, much, often everything, must be renounced for it. And only he will get it, who will appreciate it for all that he has. He who does not do so is not worthy of it (Mt 10:38).