Hello my friends,
This is Mark Gludman,
Also known as Brother Frederick James,
Your friendly neighborhood monk in dogs.
Welcome to another episode of guided meditation around the parables that Jesus told.
As always,
Let's just start by taking a moment to still ourselves and settle ourselves.
Just bring yourself fully into this moment.
Bring your mind,
Your body,
And your heart into alignment.
Take a deep breath in,
And out.
And as we continue listening to the story of Jesus,
Allow yourself to be here,
Open,
And attentive to the voice of the Spirit today.
Now this parable,
Like some of the others,
Is also pretty brief.
Just a couple of lines,
It's easy to miss.
But there's a detail here that I think often goes unnoticed.
The man in this parable isn't searching for treasure.
He's simply working in a field,
Doing what he normally does,
And then unexpectedly,
He finds something hidden,
Something valuable,
Something that changes his life.
He didn't plan it,
And he didn't earn it.
He just discovered it.
And I share this little important point because sometimes we imagine that meaning or purpose or joy has to be chased down,
That we have to strive after it or go after it with some effort.
But this story suggests another possibility,
That what matters most can be found in the ordinary places of life,
Quietly hidden,
Waiting to be noticed as we go about what we do every day,
Day after day.
So as you listen today,
Think about what treasure might already be present in your life,
Waiting to be discovered.
So let's begin by listening to the story from Matthew chapter 13 and verse 44,
And just simply hear the words as they're written in Matthew's Gospel.
Jesus said,
The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field,
Which someone found and hid.
Then in his joy,
He goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
So as we begin,
Just let the image rest quietly with you,
The field,
Ordinary ground,
The discovery of hidden treasure,
When it was least expected to be discovered.
And now listen to the parable again,
And as you listen this time,
Just notice what draws your attention,
The word,
The phrase,
The image that seems to stick with you.
Just open your ears to the voice of the Spirit in this moment.
Jesus said,
The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field,
Which someone found and hid.
Then in his joy,
He goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
And in the silence now,
Just stay with what caught your attention,
And just keep returning gently to that word,
That image,
That phrase,
And allow it to remain with you and to sink down deeply within you.
And now listen one more time,
And as you listen,
Just notice where this story connects with where you are in life right now.
What's perhaps surprised you,
Or awakened joy in ways that you were completely not expecting?
Jesus said,
The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field,
Which someone found and hid.
Then in his joy,
He goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
And now just rest in the stillness and quiet,
Allow the image to deepen even further,
That hidden treasure,
That unexpected discovery,
That joy that's unfolding,
Not because it was striven for,
Or not because it was earned,
But because it was simply found.
And as we bring our time together to a close today,
I offer you this question.
What treasure might already be present in your life that's just waiting to be noticed?
Not something that's far away,
But something that's right here in the ordinary ground of your daily life,
Beneath your feet,
Perhaps even just inches from the surface today.
And as you move into the rest of your day,
May your eyes remain open to the quiet discoveries,
And may joy arise in the unexpected places,
And may grace,
Peace,
And love go with you and be with you today and every day.
Amen.
Go gently,
My friend,
And until next time,
God's peace be with you.
Bye for now.
