When we discover something that we truly want, we express that desire in an interesting way we say “we would give anything” in order to have that one thing that we want.

In essence, we are placing greater value upon that thing than upon all those other things we already have because those other things do not compare to that one thing we really want.

In our Gospel, that is what each person does, one discovers a treasure, he buries it, sells all he has, and buys the land, while the other discovers a pearl of great price, sells all he has, in order to buy that pearl. Each time, they realize that all they already have is not truly what they want, what they want is what they are willing to give everything for. 

As Catholics, our pearl, our treasure is found in that tabernacle, it is found on that altar, it is found in our adoration chapel, because it is the greatest treasure in the entire world and it is a gift by God to us.

Many people throughout history were willing give everything for that treasure, they gave their sleep, their comfort, their health, and, in some cases, even their very lives for that pearl. For, it is more than just the Most Holy Eucharist, it is, or it should be, our entire lives, it should be the very foundation of our faith, and we should be willing to give everything for that pearl of great price.

In fact, in the Middle East, Christians are dying for that pearl, they are shedding their blood, they are standing before an angry mob and professing their faith. The consequences, as we hear, have been dire, but the treasure they discovered means more to them and is worth more than anything that this world can offer them.

The pearl of great price only has value because the price was Jesus’ blood, He gave us the Kingdom, He allows us to partake in Heaven and gives us the opportunity to experience what that means by receiving Him in the Most Holy Eucharist, by spending time in His presence.

Our faith is a gift, it is a pearl that should be guarded with our very lives, it should be something we are willing to give everything for, it is the one thing that should have the most value in our lives.

And, if it isn’t, then make it that way, for we were designed for holiness, we were created to become saints, whether we believe it or not, that is our call, that is what God desires for all of us.

In fact, one of the reasons for that adoration chapel was to give you an opportunity to pray, to spend time with Christ, in an intimate setting, so that you could discover the power of the Most Holy Eucharist, so that you can uncover that pearl of great price, so that you grow in holiness.

I spent a lot time there before my surgery and I still spend time, I prepare my homilies there, and I invite everyone here to spend time there as well. Granted, it is locked for safety reasons, but I am going to open it up on Sundays until the last Mass from now on, because I know the more we pray together, the stronger our faith will grow.

All of us are called to a greater purpose, as St. Paul says in our second reading, and that purpose becomes clearer the more we discover our faith, the more we desire to search for the greatest treasure in this world, that which all of us should be willing to give anything for, Jesus, our savior, present in the Most Holy Eucharist, the true pearl of great price.