A beautiful homily on Matthew 13:44–46 that helps families and religious rekindle lost joy by returning to what truly matters — love rooted in Jesus. (30-7-25)
Praise be to Jesus Christ
He had everything; a beautiful house, successful business, a family of his own. From the outside, it looked perfect. But inside, he felt empty. The laughter in his home had faded. Conversations had become short, and smiles were sometimes forced. There were no major fights, just a slow and quiet distance growing between hearts.
One evening, while looking through an old box of his childhood, he found a folded wedding garment once worn by his mother. It was simple, patched in places, nothing special in appearance. Yet holding it, brought back memories. He remembered how his parents lived with very little. Their home was small. Sometimes they struggled even for daily needs. But they prayed together, laughed often, ate from the same plate, and slept peacefully. They were poor, but they were rich in joy.
And now, with all the wealth he had gained, he realised something had been lost. They had nothing, yet they were happy. He had everything, yet he was not able to find happiness.
This is the story Jesus tells us in today’s Gospel. “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field. When a man finds it, in his joy, he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field” (Matthew 13:44). The key word is joy, not pressure, not fear. That kind of joy comes when the heart discovers something more precious than anything else. And for that, a person gladly lets go everything.
Saint Ignatius of Loyola once had a dream of living a Luxuries happy life. He was handsome, rich, and full of ambition. He wanted fame and imagined himself marrying a noble young beautiful lady and living a life of comfort and honour. However, a cannonball shattered his leg, and that accident also broke open his heart. In his long recovery, he began reading about Jesus and the lives of the saints. Slowly, a different dream began to grow inside him. He discovered a treasure that no battlefield could give. The more he tasted that joy, the more he was willing to let go. And finally, he left his sword, his status, his comforts, and chose a life following Christ. What he gave up looked great, but what he found was far greater. Experiencing that Joy he says, ‘When I raised my eyes to heaven the earth became so boarding’.
Saint Therese of Lisieux too had everything. She was the “little queen” in a home filled with affection and care. But she left it all behind and entered Carmel at fifteen. The cloistered walls, the cold stone, the silence — this became her field. And inside that hidden life, she discovered a pearl of great price, Jesus Himself.
But many of us today have lost that joy. Families are full of things, but hearts are tired and empty. Religious men and women carry their duties perfectly, but sometimes without the spark of love of Jesus they once had. That is why the Lord says in Revelation 2:4, “I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.” God is not scolding us. He is calling us to come back.
If we once had joy, we can have it again. We must return to what we loved at the beginning. Maybe it means praying together again or putting the phone down and listening, or going back to the chapel, not to say anything, but just to be with Jesus.
The Old Testament says in Isaiah 12:3, “With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.” The well is Jesus. He is the treasure. He is the pearl. In Him, even a poor house becomes rich. Without Him, even a palace feels empty.
When you truly find Him again, you do not say, “How much will this cost me?” You say, “Even if it costs me everything, I’ll take it, because this is everything.”
Lord Jesus, help me come back to the joy I left behind and find it again in You, my treasure and my peace.
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God Bless…
Wonderful reflection
Oh! My God,I have never thought this way
How do you write it….
Very good and reflective. Thank you
Truly enriching homily. Thank you for such great effort to reach out to many. Great channel.
Very inspiring homily. Never get tired of reading your homily. Thank you Father for taking care of our spiritual life with your meaningful homily everyday. May God bless you abundantly for your generosity .
Very inspiring. Thank you so much.
Thank you very much, Father, for your deeply inspiring and meaningful words. Through your powerful homilies each day, you draw us closer to God, nurturing our faith, deepening our love, and guiding our spiritual journey.