Pope Leo XIV reflected on the mystery of the Kingdom of God as a treasure that transforms human life during his Angelus address on Sunday, 26 July, delivered from Castel Gandolfo, where he is taking a summer break.
Commenting on the Gospel parables of the hidden treasure and the pearl of great value (Mt 13:44-52), the Pope said that the Kingdom of God brings a joy so profound that leaving everything behind is no longer experienced as a loss, but as a gain.
READ THE POPE’S CATECHESIS HERE
“Encountering his Kingdom marks a turning point that does not limit life but enlarges it,” Pope Leo said. “If anything must change on our part, it is only so that our lives may be opened to greater possibilities, not fewer.”
The Pope noted that Jesus reveals the beauty of the Kingdom through images drawn from the lives of ordinary people: farmers, merchants, fishermen, scribes, women preparing bread, builders, administrators, shepherds and farmers.
Through these examples, Jesus shows that the Kingdom can be encountered in many different circumstances and calls everyone — men and women, young and old, poor and rich — to a profound renewal.
A Church united in Christ
Pope Leo said that the Church today reflects this same diversity, bringing together people of different origins, cultures and responsibilities, all called to recognise their unity in Jesus Christ.
“He is the hidden treasure, the pearl of great price, the net that gathers those who are scattered,” the Pope said.
From the beginning, Jesus gathered around himself people who otherwise might never have met, showing that God does not show partiality and that his love is especially directed towards those who are small and overlooked.
Recognising what truly matters
Pope Leo invited the faithful to ask for the gift sought by the young King Solomon: the wisdom to recognise what is truly valuable.
He warned that consumer culture can create ever new desires and offer solutions that fail to bring lasting fulfilment and can harm the human heart.
Christians, he said, must learn to recognise the true treasure: a relationship with God that opens people to joy and helps them build better relationships with one another.
Source: Vatican News