By rereading the two parables of Matthew, we realize that the Kingdom, more than the treasure or the pearl, is compared to everything that happens when someone finds them. Either in a surprising and unexpected way, as happens to the farmer, or after having searched for a long time, as happens to the merchant. It doesn’t matter if the discovery is accidental or the result of a long commitment; what matters is the readiness with which they both react, when they come across an asset of immense value. Together with the surprise for the discovery, it is the joy of the encounter that narrates the secret of the Kingdom. We encounter the mystery of God, which we perceive as precious for our life, at the very moment when we understand how precious we ourselves are for him: this is the Kingdom! In fact, before mirroring our face, the peasant who works in the field, or the merchant who goes in search of pearls, reveal the face of God, who seeks and finds us in Jesus, because in his eyes each of us is pearl priceless, treasure of great value. The wisdom that, with Solomon, we invoke from the hands of God consists in taking his own gaze. In that peasant and in that merchant we are then invited to recognize both the face of God who seeks us and finds us, as well as our face, who finds God, sometimes without even having sought him too much, because he is the first to seek us and to reach us. punctual to the appointment.

Commentary by Comunità di Dumenza

Translation by f. Mark Hargreaves, Prinknash Abbey