July 26, 2026 at Saint Peter and Saint William Churches in Naples, FL
1 Kings 3: 5, 7-12 + Psalm 119 + Romans 8: 28-30 + Matthew 13: 44-52
Listening to these two parables weeks ago left me wondering about this all this searching, and I don’t mean searching for my keys or my phone as I do every day. A lot of us do that. I know people who are never searching. They have found everything they want, and they are happy, for a while, until what they found breaks or goes out of style. At the same time, there are even more people searching every day for food, shelter, and safety. In the middle of all that there are young people who seem to be searching too and while some are searching a for job or for someone to love them, many, from what I observe, are searching on the screen of their phones. Does anyone know what for? They don’t seem to be finding it.
The first of these parables takes us back into a field for the third weekend in a row. There was first that parable about seed being thrown everywhere and generously. Then, last week there was that parable about the weeds. All three of these field stories are really speaking of the Word of God. That is the seed scattered everywhere that needs to compete with the evil. Now comes these parables also about the Word of God that once discovered is worth everything and when embraced brings a joy that all other things failed to provide.
The last of these parables puts a value on God’s Word. It is of great price Matthew tells us. Searching for the Word of God, the Word Made Flesh is for wise and hope-filled people. Matthew puts before us today these two people who are wonderful models of faith. They are restless and searching. They are far from satisfied with the way things are, and they are willing to let go of old things and perhaps old ways to search deeper for that priceless gift of God.
All of us need to keep or start searching once again deep into the mystery of God’s Word among us. I would like to think that motivated by the power of God’s Word, we may once and for all find ways to end some people’s search for food, shelter, and safety. Rather than running all over the place looking for some new devotion or that latest vision, we need to dig deep into the Word of God. It stirs a hope that keeps faith alive and is the only search that matters, brings joy and lasts forever.