Again the kingdom of heaven is like to a merchant seeking good pearls. Who when he had found one pearl of great price, went his way, and sold all that he had, and bought it. --Matthew 13:45. 46 (Douay Rheims Translation)
While on the one hand, the merchant bought the pearl and "owns" it, but the pearl's attraction and allure were so strong as to cause the merchant to sell all his possessions and to return for it; forsaking all other wealth and possessions for the pearl alone.
So I ask who owns who?
May God bless all who read my ramblings,
Adopt A Catholic Blog
3 comments:
Oh, now there's an intriguing question. :) I have always been kerflummoxed by that particular parable, too. It doesn't seem like you gain much. I've thought it through a number of times, and my literal brain came up with this: you sell your meager possessions in order to gain something that is so much more valuable that it renders the loss irrelevant, b/c it allows you to replace it all.
And then, of course, your question brings up the idea of being "owned" by God--a whole other level of spiritual development.
The pearl of heaven, if we have the grace to recognize it, is worth giving up everything else. God owns us, which is as it should be. Now if I could just detach myself from worldly cares and really give up all else, I would be ready to seize that pearl.
Hi Contra, I found your blog link over at RAnn's and came over to say hello! Interesting question indeed... well, we can't own Jesus nor are we deserving of Him but my take on this parable is that Jesus is the pearl that we should give everything up for. God owns us!
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