The Parables of the Pearl

The Pearl already expressed a high value in the Old Testament. A person who knows the true value of a pearl is willing to give everything for it to obtain it. To this precious pearl, Jesus compares the kingdom of heaven in this short parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking precious pearls. When he finds a very precious pearl, he goes, sells whatever he has, and buys it ”(Mt 13: 45-46).

Unlike the previous parable of treasure in the field, in this parable the buyer seeks and compares pearls. Because there are also fake pearls for cheap money. But they are also expensive, but fake. When he finds the right and rare, he decides to sell everything to her and buys it. The parable of the precious pearl describes the kingdom of heaven as something rare, beautiful and rich that one willingly surrenders to all else to acquire that kingdom. No one is forced to do so because he has decided to do so. He sought and found. He enjoys himself because he has found the true value and meaning of his life.

World-renowned composer Fryderyk Chopin (1810-1849) influenced by the fame and companionship of reckless friends, fell in his religious life. He also lost faith in God. When a sick person was lying abandoned in his home, a childhood friend visited him. He has become a priest. His visit and his friendly words were not gloomy. Chopin decided to return to God. Then he kissed the cross with tears in his eyes and said, “Now, I am at the well of happiness.”

In 1933 the famous Austrian doctor dr. Jozef Pözner. The priest who provided for him says the following about his last moments of life: “Then I was thanked to be the witness of the last faith of a famous scholar. When the sacred rites were finished, he said: I believe in one God … I have never heard such a confession. It was like the final stone in the story of the building of his life work. It was like knocking on the gates of eternal life. ”

Even in the parable of the precious pearl, we can see that the person who sought the precious pearl must have known its value. That’s why he bought it. And he enjoys it very much. Similarly, a Christian must know the value of the kingdom of heaven. How? God Himself has put this unrest into every man’s heart, of which St. Augustine says that our heart cannot be reassured except in God. This restlessness is the initial grace of God, and whoever does not kill it by his own fault will seek higher values ​​and find the way to salvation. This is not just about hope, but about the assurance of God’s promise.

An example from recent years. Two engineers dismissed from the company because of religion. After some time, they wrote to former colleagues, among others: “We have been looking for a job for a long time. Everyone was afraid of us. Now we are working on an agricultural cooperative. It wasn’t easy to get used to it. It’s a different life. But what we have gained is incomparably greater: freedom. Finally, we can live according to our beliefs and conscience, regardless of the people around us and without fear of the denunciators (A. Hlinka: The Echo of the Word).

There are people, even whole nations, who have never or for a long time had to pay anything for the pearl of faith. But there were also those who paid very much – and at a high price! An essential element of the parable of precious pearl is the preciousness of the kingdom and the consequent effort of the Christian to achieve salvation. Only he will reach her, who will sacrifice everything for her. This is true and nothing can be changed. If we really care, we should think well about this fundamental truth of our life: to know the price of the Kingdom of God and to receive it. This duty was imposed on us by Jesus Christ when He said in the mountain above, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and you will receive all this extra” (Mt 6: 33). According to these words, all that we lose in this quest in search, when we find it, we will receive hundreds of times and will be heirs of eternal life (Mt 19:29).