Fr. Simon's Letter - July 30, 2023

During the months of summer, some of us use the time to complete some small home renovation projects. Others re-organize the attic or the garage, getting rid of the old and unused. Sometimes we are surprised by the hidden treasures we never knew we had, or find things that brought back memories, many pleasant and some not so pleasant. We may have learned that not all hidden things are pleasant surprises. 

Some of these hidden or forgotten finds affect us on physical, emotional, spiritual and financial levels. They may be reminders of past relationships – rewarding or difficult. Books, music or letters from the past can bring back happy or sad memories. What we treasure, and how we come to treasure it, is what the parable of the hidden treasure is about.

In my limited understanding of oysters and pearls, it seems that all it really takes to form a pearl is an irritant or a wound. When a foreign substance gets lodged inside the shell, the oyster will produce a substance which will coat the irritant in a protective layer, which is made of the same substance that makes the inside of the shell so beautiful.

Here’s the beautiful reality: pearls are formed as part of a healing process. They are the product of pain, and we realize that “a pearl is a healed wound.” Something beautiful and of great value develops as the result of an unpleasant experience. It’s not difficult to see how this process might be working in our own lives. A situation occurs, perhaps a hurtful word or a painful experience, and we let it get to us; it gets “under our skin.” Left unattended, that little irritant can cause all kinds of havoc – we change the way we think about a person, experience or situation; we doubt our decisions; we question our worth. We stop living in the promises and potential that God has given us.

What if, instead of leaving that irritant there and focusing on the pain it’s causing, we began to surround it and encase it in truth? What if we chose to stop focusing on its ability to cause pain and damage, and began intentionally wrapping it in the beautiful things that bring life and joy? Then the hidden surprises we uncover will not necessarily bring us pain and suffering, but will be an invaluable treasure of experience of truth, beauty and goodness. The Kingdom of God at work in our life then becomes a precious treasure to be sought after. When we learn to let Jesus surround the hurtful word, the painful memory, or the difficult situation, we let the beauty of the Kingdom of God shine through. There are pearls of great value formed from those wounds when we invite Jesus into the process. In him, may we find a priceless treasure.

Blessings!!