In Palestine, pearls were a byword for what was supremely valuable. Elsewhere in Matthew’s gospel, Jesus says, “Do not give dogs what is holy. Do not throw your pearls before swine.” (7:6). Pearls were the ultimate valuables.

The merchant in the gospel story has no intention of decorating the pigsty with pearls. He is collecting the finest he can lay his hands on. He is an expert. He knows precisely what he is looking for. When he comes across the finest pearl he has ever set eyes on, he has no doubt about what to do; immediately he sells everything he owns, so that he can possess the pearl that is without peer. The cost has been everything, but when he owns that pearl, his search has ended.

The Parable of The Tares in the Wheat: What A Strange Parable

“At that time Jesus said in reply, “I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike… And he taught them at length in parables.” I love the parables. I share this scriptural love with our own Deacon Bob Evans. If you have not already, check out his book Walking The Parables.

Why did Jesus Christ teach us so much in Parables? A third of all His teachings are parables. I believe it is because God wants us to think, to wonder and to reason out all there is about the Kingdom of Heaven. After all, that is what children do. Firstly, remember that when Jesus talks about wheat or grapes or wine, then we need to be extra attentive to what he has to say. And what a strange story we have today. It begins in a very straightforward manner: “The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a man who sowed good seed in his field.“

I send you special greetings and blessings from the Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan!

On behalf of the clergy, religious and entire people of God, I write once again to acknowledge with gratitude the receipt of $18,140.00 from you as a donation to our Diocese to help us with our Educational project of building a school in memory of my predecessor, late Bishop Joseph Bagobiri.

Today’s first reading is God’s invitation to a people who had been disconnected from God’s ways. In exile in a foreign land, they had no temple for worship and could not offer traditional sacrifices, but they did have a prophet, God’s mouthpiece, who spoke truth they often rejected. Now, God, through His mouthpiece, speaks a gentle word of invitation with a clear image all can understand. “Just as from the heavens the rain and snow come down without returning … so shall my word be … achieving the end for which I send it” (Isaiah 55: 10-11).

“I consider that the sufferings of this present time are as nothing compared with the glory to be revealed for us.” (Rom 8:18) “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him.” (1 Cor 2:9) Good Friday always comes before Easter Sunday and the glory of the Resurrection. Sometimes, when you’re in a dark place, you think you’ve been buried, but you’ve actually been planted. The mystery of suffering can make or break our faith and can be redemptive. Just gaze upon a crucifix to see suffering and divine love. There’s no escape from suffering in our broken world. Suffering lacks spiritual meaning for those without faith who see constant, painfree pleasure as the ultimate value of life. Pope St. John Paul the Great, with his letter “Salvifici Doloris: On Human Suffering,” and Peter Kreeft are always insightful. No one wants to suffer, but it’s reality, and we need to suffer well.