That which is of great value

The Biblical reading is about the Kingdom of Heaven. The stories we heard illustrate what it takes to acquire the Kingdom. Also, it strongly suggests the importance of upholding righteousness.

Seeking the Kingdom of Heaven takes effort and dedication. The reason why the Kingdom is worth it is because of its great value. The value is of such a nature that every action should be considered to obtain it.

For us to grasp the Kingdom of Heaven, will take effort from us. This effort entails the following: Curiosity, discipline, consistency and a willingness to be surprised by God. Probably the start of acquiring the Kingdom of Heaven is with the deeply personal question to oneself: “How do I (me) obtain the Kingdom of Heaven?”

I am proud to say that my first mobile phone was bought through my own personal savings. The was Nokia 3310 and I still think it is the best phone ever made. My father encouraged me to save for my own phone. It took many months to save until I had enough savings to buy my Nokia 3310. To have bought my own phone took the character and an inner conviction that I do have the ability to reach my goal. The sense of achievement was overwhelming when I opened the box to take out my new phone.

This story illustrates what it will take to acquire and understand the Kingdom of Heaven. It will take personal effort and inner conviction to hold on to the Kingdom of Heaven. Following such a process is worth the effort since the high value of the Kingdom. The question to consider is: “How can I find out more about the Kingdom of Heaven?”

The reading does give a hint of what the Kingdom entails. The suggestion is of upholding righteousness. How the reading explains this through the illustration of fishermen pulling a net of fish to the shore. The men then go about separating the quality fish from the low-standard fish. The point the illustration makes is that at the end of the ages, there will be a division between evil and good (righteous). The division will be done by our Lord and his angels. The reading makes us aware of the final judgement, but also it is highlighting the importance of upholding righteousness. We do not have any say in the how and when of the final judgment of Christ. This is the business of God. What we do have a say over upholding righteousness. Righteousness in one's personal life, family life, community and at work. Always uphold that which is right, correct and truthful whilst steering away from evil. It is also a case not just to steer away from the dark, but also to identify and see it for what it truly is. The Word of God is encouraging us to judge between good and bad on a daily basis until the final judgment of our Lord.

I will admit that this is a deep and also difficult topic to grasp. It is especially difficult in today’s society where right and wrong are somehow muddled. Therefore, I think it highlights the importance of good role models in our society to demonstrate what is truthful over and against untruthful. A way for us to think about it is like cleaning your house. I have a cupboard underneath our staircase that has stuff in it. A lot of stuff. Stuff goes into that cupboard that does not belong anywhere else in our house. If I am unsure if an item needs to be kept or given away (sold) then it ends up in this cupboard. No one is allowed into this cupboard, tong in the cheek, for health and safety reasons. Once a year, it is my duty to finally determine if the stuff be kept or let go off. During such a yearly project, I find myself getting rid of most of the stuff. The essence of the exercise is to determine what is right and wrong / what needs to be kept and what needs to go. This type of housekeeping exercise forces us to evaluate and make a decision.

To determine what is truthful is to give time to evaluate, assess, consult, pray and then make the final decision.

The Biblical reading is giving us a glimpse into the Kingdom of Heaven. To understand and grasp the kingdom will take effort, commitment and of course a lot of Grace. Part of pursuing the Kingdom will be upholding righteousness. Upholding righteousness seems to be a difficult task that entails calmness, discernment and courage. Yet, more so we need the breath of God giving new life and directing our heart’s desire. Amen.