A Fine Pearl

'The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls, when he finds one of great value he goes and sells everything he owns and buys it.'  Matthew 13:44-52. 

The pearl of great price, this was the message from yesterday's readings and though I've heard it many times before, various situations and circumstances can make me reflect upon it even more, in a different way. I think that's the beauty of scripture, its God's word and its alive and active in our life and what we are going through.

I'm not too familiar with pearls but I know that my birthstone is the gem pearl. I think its an elegant, classy and beautiful jewel and it happens to be a metaphor in part of yesterday's Gospel reading. While watching the Mass online, the priest mentioned how the pearl of great price is Jesus himself. To be focused on him, instead of other stones, rocks and gems that shouldn't be as important or valuable in our lives. As the priest said, they are all rocks that can be tossed, but we should never lose sight of the rock of our faith, Jesus.

I found this to be a great reminder as its easy to lose sight of the real things that matter instead of being distracted and tossed by the waves and storms of life. Jesus is always present, and we need to put him at the center of our lives.

Yesterday, my 3 older sisters and I got together for our sister day. It had been almost a year since we had gathered together with just us, no other people, distractions or events in the making. It was a glorious and beautiful day, with a lot of laughter and talking, connecting and our lives, hearts and thoughts embracing and uniting again. I realize more and more how precious this time is as 2 of my sisters present yesterday are married with families, and my older sister above me is moving away to another area. There are various transitions in our lives, all looking different, yet all grounded from the same faith, family, love and understanding as sisters- as nothing else can replace that!

I feel that we are all pearls. We are each living out our gifts, dignity, faith, beauty in its own unique way that God has prepared for now. As my oldest sister put it who couldn't be there yesterday for our special gathering, "You are each a light in this world." And with that I think of Christ's light shining in us, upon us.


I think of the pearl as a symbol in beauty, growth, strength, dignity and how it's not lovely and beautiful all on its own or all by itself, but as I wrote before, from another post- a pearl from an oyster, that a pearl was formed and created out of something, from a situation, a hardship, a circumstance, ect... And in this time of transition, hardship, growth there will be pain and there will be struggles. But being with my dear sisters yesterday allowed me to see that strength, hope, and beauty in all of it, this journey ahead! And to know that we have the greatest pearl ever hoped for, Jesus himself.