Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time – Sr. Agnes Nelson, SNDdeN
July 26, 2026
Matthew 13: 44-52
In today’s Gospel we hear the parables of the one who found treasure in a field and the merchant who found a pearl of great price. We cannot help but be struck by the excitement and joy of these two treasure finders. The merchant acts so quickly selling all he has to buy the pearl and the first seeker covers up the treasure in case someone else comes along. His joy is contagious.
I was struck by the similarity between these treasure finders and the women and men of the early Christian community. They ‘sold their goods and possessions and shared out the proceeds among themselves according to what each one needed….and … they shared their their food gladly and generously.’ (Acts 2: 44- 47) The Christian writer Tertullian tells us that people who saw them were impressed not just by what they said but by what they saw: ‘See how these Christian love one another.’ Their joy and happiness was so evident. What treasure had they found that transformed their lives so radically?
In my life experience I found a treasure in my ministry of building a faith community with people who were developmentally disabled. For over forty years we spent valuable time together sharing stories, sharing silence, praying, relaxing, sharing food and I have no doubt that what characterised us was our joy and our love for one another.
I wonder if Jesus in this parable was thinking of the Father as His treasure as that relationship seemed to propel his whole ministry. As he approached his death Jesus prayed that the joy that was in him might be in his followers and what could be more moving that those final words in Chapter 17 of John, a prayer for his friends: ‘I pray that the love with which the Father has loved me may be in them.’ This joy and love in Jesus was poured into His ministry and passed on to his followers.
What we treasure most is shown not by what we say we value but by our actions.
The early Christians community got the message. Do we?
Matthew 13: 44-52
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it. “Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. “Have you understood all these things?” Jesus asked. “Yes,” they replied. He said to them, “Therefore every teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.”
Meet Sister Agnes Nelson, SNDdeN
