I do not have a good answer for that. Typically what I believe when I hear about the Kingdom of God is not so much Jesus sitting on a throne of power, but rather Jesus kneeling down to serve the neediest. If we look at the words Jesus spoke, the life Jesus live, and the Resurrection Jesus underwent we clearly may see that the Kingdom of God is not a kingdom in the earthly sense, but rather a realm that flips the corrupt ways of this world on its head. Let us explore the two short parables Jesus gave us today to understand this further.
“The kingdom of heaven,” Jesus said, “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.” This story sounds confusing. Did the man bury his own treasure in someone else’s yard, then go dig it up? While the original language is not crystal clear, a more logical interpretation of the story goes as follows: one man buries treasure, another man finds the treasure on someone else’s property; the second man digs up the treasure, then buries it back, sells all he has, buys the treasure-laden property, and only then takes hold of his prize. Honestly, this does not sound like any earthly kingdom. There is no logic here.
Looking deeper into this story we find that a man trespassed, dug up someone else’s property, and sold all he had so that he could get some treasure—and this somehow describes God’s realm? If we only use earthly parameters—like logic and reason and good sense—we might think this not only sounds different, but also crazy, risky, and illegal! And yet, Jesus uses this story to describe the way God’s world works. He makes it clear that we must be willing to risk our reputations, our wealth, and even our lives to go in search of God’s way of being. The Kingdom of God is not an easy path or a walk in the park it is risky love.
The second parable confirms that tough way in describing a merchant longing for a pearl. All of us when we are not resting in God will feel restless to paraphrase a line from Saint Augustine of Hippo. Here it is interesting to note that the Kingdom of God is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; not the merchant or the pearls individually, but the one in the action of searching. Again, this realm of God is not like the wisdom of this world, which tells us to diversify our investments. No, the way to God requires us to give all that we have to take hold of that relationship with God, which will in turn multiply our blessings a hundredfold. I am not saying this will be easy or that all will be rich financially who believe. Rather, when we give God everything God in return blesses us with the full abundance of life.
Now, do not walk out of here thinking that I am saying liquefy every asset you have. Do not think that I am saying be reckless with how you live your life. I am not saying be imprudent. Rather, we must be wise as serpents and kind as doves. Still, God’s way of being—God’s Kingdom if you will—calls us to be reckless in love. For love is an infinite resource that we can give to all. In Jesus God shows us the way to love, in the Spirit God gives us the power to do the same. We are called to take part in the love of God to be part of God’s way of life to exist in the Kingdom of God, which is unlike any other kingdom that has ever existed, for it is based completely on reckless love that we share fully with all!
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