The pearl of great price.....US!

[ncjohn]

I have heard during most of my life, when the “pearl of great price” parable would come up, how it gave us insight into how important it was for us to give our all for the kingdom of heaven. As I was reading it this morning, I had one of those mini “aha” moments in which I came to another level of meaning, another layer of the onion peeled away.

It came to me that WE are the pearls of great price, for which GOD has given everything that He might possess us. WE are the field in which He has found great treasure and given all–His very Self through Jesus–that He might have us forever.

Of course this doesn’t take the other meaning out of play, as we need to return that love by finding Him to be the pearl of great price. It is that eternal love relationship that is what the whole great mystery of the Godhead is about, and which we are invited to participate in.

Lord, I am not worthy…yet YOU say that I am worthy. Even more you find me to be a pearl of great price. And you find that “neighbor” I’m not so fond of to be one too.

Kind of makes me rethink how I consider that neighbor…

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Great post John!

I always like St. Theresa’s analogy, in that we are the flowers in God’s garden. Just as a gardener, loves every flower equally so too God loves each of us, equally.

The Scripture verse I also love is,

“Where your treasure is, so will you find your heart.”

In Christ Jesus
Jim

 

[tee_eff_em]

I have heard during most of my life, when the “pearl of great price” parable would come up, how it gave us insight into how important it was for us to give our all for the kingdom of heaven. As I was reading it this morning, I had one of those mini “aha” moments in which I came to another level of meaning, another layer of the onion peeled away.

It came to me that WE are the pearls of great price, for which GOD has given everything that He might possess us.

Cool My bride had this very same insight this weekend!

In the first of the two parables (shorter form) read this weekend, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field…, which carries pretty standard symbolism. But in the second parable, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant, not “like the pearl the merchant seeks”!

They are like two sides of the same story – When we find salvation, we may sacrifice everything to secure it. But we can only find it because God first sought us out, and purchased us for the greatest price of all.

tee

 

[InLight247]

Great insight, John.

How beautiful it is for the mutual love between our Lord and us.
He is the pearl to us and we are to Him!

And you are so right that since each of us is the pearl in God’s eyes, how could we not treat our brothers and sisters with love and respect?

 

[ncjohn]

How beautiful it is for the mutual love between our Lord and us.
He is the pearl to us and we are to Him!

It’s so mind-boggling to consider one’s self to be a treasure in another’s eyes when one’s earthly experience has not borne that out.

*Hey Ma…God thinks I’m a treasure! *

 

[MarieVeronica]

John, you’re so right. I think if we had even the slightest glimmer of how MUCH God loves us… we would do anything and everything to serve Him… so that we could be with Him, one day… in Heaven. We might even die of love! (as St. Therese of Lisieux, put it).

Of course, if we really want to see the reflection of that “Pearl of Great Price”… which God loves SO much… we have only to kneel in contemplation of the nearest Crucifix.

When you start to realize… “He did that… for ME”… you begin to realize His love for you. And you want to love Him back, and “join” Him, on the Cross.

Thank you for a profound thought. God bless you.

 

[BarbaraTherese]

What wonderful insight, John…a true gem that I will never forget, changing my whole perspective on “the pearl of great price”! Thank you very much indeed for sharing your insight!!!

Blessings and my regards…Barb