The Pearl of Great Price

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls. When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it” (Mt 13:45-46). This parable has stuck out to me as I’ve gotten accustomed to life in community and at my service site, Catholic Charities Refugee Services. Specifically in how I’ve been called to offer up, to sell if you will, my time and attention in order to buy the pearl of great price. In this case, seeing the face of Christ in the faces of those around me.

A story that comes to mind happened on a snowy and brisk morning in late January. I was sitting at my desk with my head in my hands. Today was especially busy, and I had just finished helping a small line of refugees that almost extended out of the office doorway. This isn’t entirely unusual but today was particularly draining. I sensed a growing degree of frustration rooted in my inability to complete my work because of the distractions and interruptions I experience throughout the day.

When I’ve felt overwhelmed at work, I remember the joke my colleague and predecessor to my job, Ben, had always told me when he was still working. This time, when my mind was wandering, I recalled a moment that I had on the most recent prayer retreat with the FrancisCorps community. Time is one a resource, the most precious resource that we have, and one that we feign ownership of. Additionally, God was inviting me on that retreat to let it go, to offer it up to Him, in order for me to buy the “pearl of great price.” Upon further contemplation, I realized that the pearl of great price was seeing the face of the Lord in the faces of those around me, whether that be in my own community, those that I serve, and those that I see day to day.

This changed my perspective, as it allowed me to engage better with my community, clients, and workmates. While it didn’t reduce my workload, it did provide me greater clarity. In order for me to see Christ in the way that I was being called to on retreat, I needed to loosen the tight grip that I had on time, and to relax and offer it up. This way, I would be able to be more present to the people where the face of Christ, the Pearl of Great price, was made manifest.

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