Treasure, pearls and fish

The texts of the Roman Catholic Lectionary for today bring searching to mind. Solomon is to replace his father David as King. The Lord offers him anything he asks for his life. The search of Solomon leads him to ask for wisdom for which he becomes a synonym. The psalmist praises the treasures of God as mercy, steadfast love and commandments. (Wisdom?) Fr Larry Gillick SJ begins his reflection for today with the image of our life journey. Paul proclaims to the Romans the great Christian passage of consolation. The love of God transforms all that those who are searching for intimacy with the Divine encounter to good. The searching of the one who is digging in the field and the merchant in the parables of Jesus from Matthew’s Gospel emphasize the search and the joy of finding the treasure which is the intimate relationship of our indwelling Spirit with the Spirit of God and valuing that relationship above everything. The sorting of the fish and the reference to the ‘called’ in Romans 8:28 suggest that the joy and consolation presented in these texts may not be the experience of all. We are always challenged to continue to search, to continue the journey. This unfinished journey contains unanswered questions. Who are the called? (everyone?) Who does not search for the Meaning in Life? (no one?)