Fr. Don’s Weekly Letter ~ 26 July 2026

Dear Good People of Saint Bernadette,

If you look for it, you will find treasure all through the Sacred Scriptures. It was quite an ordinary practice in the ancient world. Earthenware pots and jars were often used as containers to store and conceal items of value. During times of disorder, it was not unusual to bury valuables in such jars, perhaps under the earthen floor, within a wall, in a farm field, or urban lot, and then retrieve the valuables when the threat ended. The historian Josephus described the efforts of Jewish citizens to store their gold and silver underground during the Roman destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. One modern discov-ery, the Dead Sea Scrolls, were discovered in large, clay pots in a cave in Qumran. The scrolls, largely due to the dry climate, were preserved for some 2,000 years.

The prophet Jeremiah is instructed to store the deeds of his recently redeemed property in earthenware containers prior to the coming destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians.

In the parable of the talents in the Gospel of Matthew the slothful servant hides the talent he has been entrusted with, by burying it in the ground. The servant is unwilling to use what he has been given and to take the risks necessary for an greater return to his master.

Paul alludes to this practice in his second letter to the Corinthians: “But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us.” This text contrasts the worth of the contents with the clay jar’s lack of worth. He stresses the tremendous worth of the Gospel message shared with the world by the followers of Christ. What is important here is the power of God working in and through the fragility of human effort.

The theme of the parables in today’s Gospel is the priceless value of the kingdom of heaven. In both cases, the finders find something so valuable that they are gladly willing to sacrifice everything to obtain it and are overjoyed to do so.

Jesus compares the kingdom of heaven to “a treasure hidden in a field.” Several thoughts in this parable ask for deeper reflection.

The most obvious is that the man is not in search of treasure. The treasure, in a sense, finds him. We may not be seeking after God, but God is seeking after us. Having been found, the treasure requires immediate action, or it may be lost to him. “Seek the Lord while he may be found” (Isaiah 55:6-7); “Behold, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation”(2 Corinthians 6:2).

The second aspect is that the man conceals the discovery and purchases the property without revealing to the owner what he has found. At its core, like the parable of the unjust steward, the story is not about his lack of ethics or character deficiency, but his recognition of the tremendous value of what he has found. In his joy, he sells all he has to obtain a greater wealth.

Jesus asks the disciples whether they understand. They say yes. He might well ask us the same question, “Do you understand?” This exchange is one of the few positive portrayals of scribes in the Gospels. It is quite a contrast to Matthew 23, where Jesus denounces the scribes and the Pharisees in seven “woe unto you” statements.

In this case, “every scribe” has occasion to experience God’s kingdom as a disciple and to bring his or her training to bear for the sake of the kingdom. An example would be the apostle Paul who, after his conversion, used his considerable powers to proclaim the gospel and prosper the kingdom.

Jesus described such people as being “like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.” First-century cultures in the Mediterranean area valued ancient things and values that stood the test of time. Things that were new were suspect. Recognizing new items as treasures would involve sensitivity, preparation, and readiness to take a risk to one’s standing in the community.

We have the opportunity to honor and value that which stands beyond the test of time.

What was new was the coming of the kingdom in the person of Jesus! What was old was tradition and wisdom of the law whose authority Jesus upholds and fulfills, and the prophets who proclaimed his coming.

Our theme this fall will be all about the Kingdom of God and who we are as its citizens, already now.

The Lord be with you,