Many of us collect something - stamps, postcards, antiques, etc. Now, one could quickly think that this is capitalistic, greedy or perhaps even unethical, because one is possibly taking something away from others who are less well-off. And so one imagines that perhaps religious people are the opposite: ascetic, willing to do without as much as possible, no attachment to material things. In this context, I find it interesting that Jesus uses precisely this tendency to collect to illustrate what heaven is like: he tells the story of a pearl gatherer who suddenly finds the one and is willing to give away everything for it. Would we call this attitude exemplary? I doubt it... but that is Jesus' role model: wanting something with such great passion that you are willing to give everything for it. And by the pearl he means belonging to and having a home in heaven, with him.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
