The Parable of the Pearl of Great Price
No fixed feast day in the calendar
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A merchant finds a precious pearl and sells everything to buy it: the Kingdom is worth our whole life
What is this parable?
This is one of two very short parables that come one after the other in the Gospel of Saint Matthew: the treasure in the field and the precious pearl (the parable of the treasure has its own card). In Jesus’ time, pearls were very costly treasures, brought from faraway seas. The Lord uses this picture to talk about how much the Kingdom of heaven is worth.
The story
Jesus tells of a merchant searching for fine pearls. Then he finds one precious pearl (cf. Mt 13:45-46). We can imagine he had looked at so many pearls, but this one was worth more than all of them.
He does not hesitate. He goes off and sells everything he has so that he can buy that pearl (cf. Mt 13:46). Other people may have thought he was foolish, but he knew very well that he had just gained the most precious thing of all.
What does Jesus want to teach you?
Unlike the farmer who happened to find the treasure, the merchant is someone who takes the trouble to search. Deep in every heart there is a longing to find true happiness. Many people look for it in money, fame, nice things or games. Those things can be good, but only God can truly fill our hearts.
Following God sometimes asks you to give a few things up: less time on your phone so you can pray, or dropping a bad habit. But someone who has met God gives things up joyfully, like the merchant who is so happy to have the pearl.
A lesson for you
- Take the trouble to learn about God: read the Gospel, study your catechism, ask your parents and teachers.
- When you have to choose between God and something else that attracts you, choose God.
- Keep your faith safe, like the most precious pearl you own.
- Spend a few minutes every day telling God: “You are the most precious thing I have.”
Identifying marks
- A small pearl between the merchant’s fingers: the Kingdom of heaven, Jesus himself, the most precious thing anyone can find in life.
- The merchant’s delighted face: the joy of someone who has found what he was searching for so long; he gives up everything without regret.
- The seller’s red-lined wooden box, now empty: the pearl has just been taken out of it; there is only one pearl that precious, and the merchant has chosen it.
- A busy market full of goods: the world shows us many attractive things; a wise person knows how to tell which is the most precious.
The text on this page is the card in the Catholic Information app, word for word.
Compiled by i-Catholic · About