Psalm9│Isaiah 44.24-45.13│Revelation 22.6-21│Matthew 13.44-58
Psaume 9 | Esaïe 44.24-45.13 |Apocalypse 22.6-21|Matthieu 13.44-58
You are a pearl in God’s hand
'Pearls being removed from oysters'
By Keith Pomakis - Own work, CC BY-SA 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=533074
Like
all parables, the parable of the pearl (v. 45,46) is meant to tease our brain.
Today let us consider the explanation whereby the merchant represents Christ
and the pearl you and I, the Christian church.
First
a few facts about a pearl. The formation of a pearl is mind blowing, really
miraculous. It all starts with a tiny speck of sand, or anything else like a
tiny piece of shell hedged in an oyster which irritates and threatens the life
of the oyster. As the oyster is not able to remove the little dirt, it follows
another strategy. The oyster secretes a beautiful substance and covers the
little speck of sand with the same. Layer after layer. And so over time the
little intruder turns into a beautiful, shiny pearl.
And
so the formation of a pearl is pure natural. There is no human intervention
which makes the pearl unique in its sort. (A diamond for example needs to be
cut; other minerals need to be extracted from the earth).
A
pearl is not a mass product. Each pearl is absolutely unique.
A
pearl is hidden in the shell of the oyster, invisible till it has been found
and brought into the light where it can shine.
Nothing
compares to the beauty of a pearl.
Back
to our parable, the spiritual explanation is not difficult. The merchant, Jesus
has come to seek us; he considered us so precious that he willingly paid a huge
price to lift us out of our darkness into the heavenly kingdom. May you know
yourself found and bought by the merchant.
You
are not a little, faulty, insignificant, irritating speck of sand in this vast
universe; you are not a mass product, you are a treasure of immeasurable worth
and strength, you are unique, a finest and most precious pearl, safe in God's
hand.
Remember
this even when difficulties cross your path, when dark and brooding emotions
try to control you and threaten to drown you in doubt and fear.
May
this knowledge fuel your thoughts; these thoughts your feelings; these feelings
your actions. And be aware, your actions may impact a sequence of events.
Dear
Lord, renew the attitude of our mind, help us to shine like precious pearls
this advent time and always, glorifying the one who has bought us and saved us.
Amen.
Janine
Vrolijk
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