The Kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field
Heavenly treasure is less obvious than earthly treasure, which is more superficial. Earthly treasures abounds at the surface level and therefore many set about collecting it. Earthly treasures, however, are not worthy of the exchange of everything one has. It is not a bargain anyone would make consciously. Yet in order to make up for their comparative lack of value we sometimes spend our entire lives accumulating it to make up for the deficiency. Unfortunately for those who do so, such treasures of earth, "where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal" (see Matthew 6:19), will never add up to the value of the treasure in the field. We can't let ourselves be content with what is merely superficial and appears obvious. This perspective fails to sound the true depths of the person of Jesus and the reality of his Kingdom. It stops at human appearances and cannot fathom the treasure that is hidden but luminous within. The invitation to look deeper comes by grace, by the Father drawing us. Our response is meant to be one of faith, for it is by faith is "the evidence of things not seen" (see Hebrews 11:1).
which a person finds and hides again
When we begin to possess the treasure we ought not be superficial about it. This means we shouldn't be like the path from which the seed of the word of God is easily lost. This does not mean that we selfishly horde the treasure for ourselves. But it does mean that we don't wear it as an adornment of our vanity, nor use it to seek praises of others.
That he hides it, does not proceed of envy towards others, but as one that treasures up what he would not lose, he hides in his heart that which he prizes above his former possessions.- Saint Jerome
and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
It is not the case that all of the man's possessions are worth the price of the treasure. Indeed, he clearly regards himself as lucky, as though if anyone else knew about it he never get away with it. This sort of response is a sign of someone who has truly discovered the Kingdom. It reminds us Zacchaeus whose response to Jesus was that he "came down and received him joyfully" and said "Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold" (see Luke 19:6, 19:8). The treasure we find really is beyond price and the opportunity to acquire it is pure grace. When we experience this ourselves we can't help but make a similar response to Zacchaeus. We divest ourselves of all that we have to the degree those things are obstacles to appreciating the treasure we have found. Compared to the treasure they are no longer worthy of our attention so we are happy to be free of them.
When he finds a pearl of great price,
he goes and sells all that he has and buys it.
If we were asked, 'What is the treasure?' or 'What is the pearl of great price', we would know how to give the correct answer: Jesus and his Kingdom. To be sure, and emphatically, yes. But has the reality of the value of this treasure really hit home with us? Is it really something so valuable to us that we would dig and search in order to find it, and, having found it, give everything to possess it? Is Jesus for us a treasure that relativizes all earthly treasure as it did for Paul, or do we see it as only one among many goods to pursue?
Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ (see Philippians 9:8).
Because we keep the treasure hidden even, in some sense, from ourselves, we may sometimes forget its true value and become once again charmed with the passing delights of this world. It is therefore necessary to continue to use our faith to remember and to value the treasure we have received, and to let go of other treasure competing for our attention. In other words, this experience of finding the treasure is not meant to happen to us only once. Rather, it is a realization that should take deeper hold of us throughout our lives.
Jeremiah was an example of one made rich by the treasure that comes from God alone. His worldly circumstances could not have purchased what God himself provided as a gift. He had to trade his old and limited ways of thinking of himself as alone and pitiful for a new mindset given to him from above.
And I will make you toward this people
a solid wall of brass.
Though they fight against you,
they shall not prevail,
For I am with you,
to deliver and rescue you, says the LORD.
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