WHEN I was a child I always wanted new Lego sets. It was my favourite toy. I’m sure you can all remember that feeling when there was something, a toy or book, that you longed for. How you saved up your pocket money, or anything you got for your birthday, and finally you could have your heart’s desire. It’s a powerful emotion, which creates a strong memory, and it is the idea behind most of Our Lord’s teaching in the Gospel this week. 

In the Old Testament reading God makes a promise to Solomon: Ask me for something and I will give it to you. Solomon does not ask for wealth, long life, or for God to smite his enemies. Instead, King Solomon asks for wisdom: the ability to discern between good and evil, so that he could rule God’s people wisely. Such a sensible and altruistic request reminds us that God gives us gifts so that we may be a blessing to others. Our talents are for the flourishing of society rather than for our own glory. Solomon begins from a place of humility and total dependance upon God. He doesn’t know what to do, and the task of ruling is beyond him. But, because he relies on God, wonderful things happen. 

We find a similar idea expressed in Paul’s Letter to the Romans:

‘And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.’ (Rom 8:30)

The key to it all is being Christ-like, conformed to the image of Jesus. When we live Jesus-shaped lives, when we are loving, and care for others, not only are we living as God wants us to live, but we become walking breathing advertisements for the Kingdom of God. Holiness of life is attractive, it gives us a glow, a bit like the ‘Ready Brek’ kids in the classic television advert. As Christians, we pray that we may be filled with the Holy Spirit, and live out our faith in a way which proclaims the truth of the Kingdom and the newness of life in Christ. Our collective experience over the last few years has taught us what really matters: the communities in which we live, our family, our relationships, the people we love. These things cannot be bought or sold, but are of infinite value, because they are rooted and grounded in love. Only by living out the same costly love and reconciliation shown to us by Jesus Christ can we have any hope of achieving anything. Jesus’ teaching isn’t theory, but something we need to put into practice in our lives. Relationships are characterised by giving love and offering forgiveness. This is how we all grow together as a community. The transformation starts with us, we have to be the change we want to see. Change starts with conversion, turning towards our loving God, a God whose arms are flung wide to embrace the world upon the Cross.

In the Gospel, Our Lord describes His followers in this way:

“Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house, who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.” (Mt 13:52)

The mixture of treasure, both old and new, is a metaphor for Jesus’ teaching. It is old: because it is rooted in Jewish scripture and tradition. At the same time it is also new, a brand new way of living, which offers the world something different. That is to live for others, and to lay down our lives in the service of God and His people. Christ’s teaching is revolutionary, and continues to present an alternative to the human desire for power and control. Jesus puts our flourishing at the centre, so that each and every one of us thrives.

Over the last two thousand years Christians have made mistakes, and continue to do so, but they do not detract from our aim to make the world a better place. In this morning’s Old Testament reading Solomon begins well. He will go on to be a wise ruler, but later he loses his way. He strays from the path, and does not follow God’s commandments. But thanks to Jesus healing the sin of humanity on the Cross, we can have forgiveness, learn from our mistakes, and continue to build up the Kingdom of God.

Our Lord also describes the Kingdom of Heaven as like treasure in a field. It is an image which resonates with our local history. The legend of buried treasure led people to blow up the bluestones near the spring on the outskirts of the village. Some folk will do anything to find treasure! That is because they equate wealth with power and happiness. In today’s parable the Kingdom is understood as having a similarly attractive quality. You would be prepared to do anything to obtain it.

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.” (Mt 13:45-46)

Pearls are radiant, lustrous, and shiny and found growing in mussels and oysters. They are valuable because they are both beautiful and rare. Because of its value, the Pearl is a metaphor for living a Christian life. The Kingdom is something we should prize above everything else, and pursue with a single-minded resolve.

We have been given an example to follow: Jesus. But the truth is that we aren’t very good at living up to His standards. It is easy to just spread a bit of gossip, to harbour a grudge and so on. There are thousands of little ways to undermine the Kingdom, and we all fall into them, despite our best intentions. The point is not that we fail, but that we keep trying. That is why the Christian Faith is the work of a lifetime. It involves many years of failing, seeking forgiveness, and trying to live out the Kingdom. This is something we cannot achieve on our own. We need God, just as Solomon does. We also need each other: a community of faith,  which we call the Church. Together, as people of faith, we can offer the world the healing and reconciliation it longs for and needs, now more than ever. God’s love, lived out in our own lives, is the pearl of great price, the treasure which is both old and new. Jesus’ teaching is two thousand years old, and yet it is lived out anew in the lives of Christians every single day.

So, my brothers and sisters in Christ, let us value His example above all else, and be living witnesses to His Kingdom. Let us love our Lord, and encourage others to do the same, and join us in singing the praises of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. To whom be ascribed all glory, dominion, and power, now and forever. Amen.