|
Hidden treasure
SERMON - 10.15am, Emmanuel Church, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
Sunday 24th July 2005
Revd. Matthew Vernon
Matt 13. 44ff.
We are bombarded with parables this morning: more parables about the kingdom of heaven:
• the kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed
• the kingdom of heaven is like yeast
• the kingdom of heaven is like hidden treasure
• the kingdom of heaven is like a single pearl of great value.
So I'm going to focus on one of the parables: the hidden treasure.
• a suitably financial image for Hong Kong!
And use a meditation by Anthony de Mello.
As I read make the words your own in your imagination
Before we begin find a comfortable position
• perhaps with both feet on the floor
And beware of your breathing:
• in and out.
Jesus says, "Here is a picture of the Kingdom. It is like a treasure buried in a field. The man who found it went and through sheer joy, sold everything he had – and bought that field."
I have a treasure:
the thing I value most in life.
I relive the events that led me to discover it.
I think of the history of my life from the time I found this treasure…
what is has done for me
and meant to me.
I stand before this treasure
(God or Jesus Christ
or a conviction, value or ideal
or a person, task or mission)
and I say, "Of all the things I have, you are the dearest."
And I see what happens to me when I say that.
I think how much I would gladly do or give
(even life itself, maybe)
in order to preserve this treasure.
If it is not that important, I acknowledge this with sadness
And I hope for a day when I shall find a treasure for which through sheer joy I shall be ready to give up everything.
I am a treasure.
Someday, somewhere, someone discovered me.
I should have no awareness of my worth if someone had not found it.
I recall and relive the details of being found.
I am a multifaceted treasure.
There were many things concealed in me that different people drew out and revealed to me.
I joyfully review each one of these
and gratefully remember the people who uncovered them.
Finally, I stand before the Lord
and find, to my surprise, that he considers me a treasure.
I see reflected in his eyes the many lovely facets that only he could have observed in me
and I rest in the love he gives me.
|
