Not Remain But Change

July 30, 2023 – 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/073023.cfm)

There was once a man suffering from hyper-acidity and severe stomachache. He had already consulted a number of doctors about his sickness, but in vain.  He is still suffering from his hyper-acidity and stomachache. He had also undergone a lot of surgeries, medicines, therapies, and food supplements. But still nothing happens, except he has already consumed his entire budget. He only wished that he be cured from his severe illness.

One day indulging himself for a new pair of pants at least before he died, he went to see his tailor and ask to make him a pair of pants. When his waist was measured, the tailor announced, “36”. But he insisted, “30, not 36. Ever since, I always have size 30 for my pants”. The tailor asserted, “Well, if you insist, 30 it will be, as long as you don’t blame me if you always experience hyper-acidity and severe stomachache.”

He could have healed from his hyper-acidity and stomachache, and have saved a lot of money from medicine, if and when he is willing to leave behind and change his lifestyle of size “30” and learn to accept the new reality that he is already size “36”.

As per our experience, we know we cannot have, own, and possess everything in life. But though not having everything in life, we can still fully benefit and enjoy what life can offer us at the moment, if and when we only change our way of life – if and when we change our lifestyle. In other words, for us to grow and fully enjoy life, we cannot remain what we are and what we have been. We have to let go and move on with a much better & promising life before & ahead of us.

The same radical lesson we learn from Jesus in our gospel today. While teaching his disciples and us about the Kingdom of God through the parables of the treasure and the pearl, Jesus simply points us that what God offers us is so precious that is worth more than everything we have. And for us to fully receive its blessings and graces, much is required of us, and much has to be done by us – and that is to change our ways, to change our lifestyle.

All the people in our parable have clearly shown these. When they have found their treasure and pearl, they went and sold everything they have, and bought their precious – their hearts desire. Meaning, for us to fully possess the treasures of God’s kingdom, we need to leave behind, let go our usual lifestyle, and be open & ready to receive changes and new realities in life. In the same way, for us to fully own the treasures of God’s life and salvation, we must let go of what we have, free ourselves of our previous attachments, and change our life in compatible with the better life God is offering us now. In other words, to fully live and own the life God offers us, we cannot remain but change.

This is very true in life. For that sickly man to live his life fully, he cannot remain size 30 but change his ways and accept that he is now size 36. To be a better family man, one cannot remain a bachelor and waste his and his family’s life, but now change to be a better man for his own family. To build-up one’s own family, one cannot remain dependent on one’s parents but be more responsible and independent for one’s own family. To be a dignified and respected person, one cannot remain a spoiled brat, an addict and a loser but be more responsible for one’s life.

Perhaps we might ask ourselves now: have we already found the treasure of God’s kingdom in our life? If so, have we gone to sell what we have, have we changed our ways in order for us to fully acquire and own God’s graces? If not, time for us to do the right things – to do what needs to be done so that God’s graces will not be wasted. Remember God offers us a life so precious that we cannot help remain but change.

So May It Be.