Jesus says the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls. One day he finds a pearl of great price. Overwhelmed by his good fortune, he sells everything he has and buys it.*

This Sunday I would like to tell you about a man who made such a discovery. When I was in Peru, I had a long conversation with an old friend – a European priest who came to Peru in the early seventies. Unlike the rest of us, he became a Peruvian citizen and diocesan priest. A gifted preacher, his homilies attracted many people and were broadcast on the radio. He also had a gift for administration and became the bishop’s right hand man in organizing the pastoral and charitable work of the diocese.

In recent years, his earthly fortunes have declined. His health, never great, suffered a severe blow when thieves attacked the parish, killing the sacristan and his wife. Robbing the rectory, they also threatened “Padre Giovanni” with burning him alive. Besides stealing everything of value, they destroyed a collection of medicinal herbs which he had spent twenty years classifying. The thieves evidently had motives beyond simple robbery. Perhaps they were sent by someone who had a grudge against the priest.

To make matter worse, the administration of the diocese changed a few years back and Fr. Giovanni received little support in his trouble. He found himself an outsider in the diocese he had worked so hard to build up.

After listening to his story, I asked him why he did not simply go back to Europe. He replied that his home country has nothing to offer him. His nephews and nieces know they have an uncle who is a priest somewhere in South America, but it means nothing to them. His life is among the people of Peru. At that point, he looked at me with an intensity I will never forget, “You know, Felipe,” he said, “my faith in Jesus’ presence in the Church has never been greater.”

Fr. Giovanni had found the pearl of great price. Like him, others have made that discovery in two stages. The first is the joyful commitment of youth – when a young man commits himself unconditionally to his wife or accepts sacred orders. But there comes a later stage when it become clear that the choice is not ours, that Jesus is the one in charge and that he does the selling for us. It has to happen. We cannot make that total surrender on our own power.**

It is scary – to face martyrdom, to become an outsider, lose control of ones physical or emotional health. I pray that you and I might have that same faith as Fr. Giovanni: to face trials and still be able to say, “My faith in Jesus present in the Church has never been greater.” Jesus was serious when he said we must sell everything in order to purchase the pearl of great price.

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