My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today the Lord is putting a very direct question right in front of our faces: What are you actually chasing in this life, and what are you willing to walk away from to get it? In the Gospel, Jesus doesn’t complicate things. He talks about a guy working in a field who stumbles on a hidden treasure, and a merchant who finally tracks down the perfect pearl. And look at what they do. They don’t drag their feet, they don’t complain about the price tag, and they don’t look back. Out of pure, absolute joy, they go and sell every single thing they own just to lock it down. Now, the world looks at that and thinks it’s a massive sacrifice. But when you’ve spent a lifetime seeing what passes for “treasure” in this world, you know better. When you realize that the living Christ and the fire of the Holy Spirit are the ultimate prize, walking away from the temporary, fleeting distractions of this world isn’t a painful loss at all. It’s just a smart, joyful trade.

To see that clearly, you need real spiritual wisdom—the exact kind of gut-level discernment King Solomon begged God for in our first reading. Remember, Solomon was a young leader stepping into a massive responsibility, and God told him he could have anything he wanted. He didn’t ask for wealth, fame, or the destruction of his enemies. He looked at his calling, realized his own limitations, and asked for an understanding heart to know right from wrong and to lead his people with integrity. That is where we must take a hard look in the mirror. Look at how much time we waste chasing counterfeit treasures, running after status, material comfort, or looking for something to calm the anxieties and the storms inside our own chests. But the truth is, the world can’t give you that peace. In a few moments at the Offertory, we’re going to sing a line that says it all: “You are the voice that calms the storm inside me… It’s always been You.” That’s the breakthrough right there. True wisdom is realizing that the answer to your restlessness isn’t found in the next worldly distraction; it’s always been Christ. He is the ultimate treasure, and He’s already right here, present in the Word and waiting for you at this altar in the Holy Eucharist.

Now, as a parish family at St. Michael’s, we love to worship. We let the Holy Spirit move dynamically, and we stand firm on the solid truth of our Dominican roots. But let me be perfectly straight with you: we do not come here just to get comfortable, sing our praises, and keep the fire to ourselves inside these four walls. The grace we receive at this altar is meant to draw a line in the dirt. So, I am challenging every single one of you today. Don’t just leave here today saying it was a nice Mass. Take a hard look at your life this week and ask yourself: How am I going to take this treasure and use it to better the Kingdom of God—not just in the quiet routine of my own personal prayers, but out there in the lives of the people who need it most? I challenge you to identify the lesser things you’re still clinging to, lay them down, and actively bring the raw, authentic light of Christ into your homes, your workplaces, and your neighborhoods. Stop holding back, start leading by example, and let’s go out there and build the Kingdom together.

Dominus vobiscum.

† Frank Bellino, PhD, OPI