The Gospel of Matthew contains the parable of the pearl of great value, as we read: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.” (MT13:45-46) Jesus offers no interpretation or explanation of the parable, leaving us to find its meaning.

The interpretation can have many viewpoints as to who, is the merchant? One point of view is that Jesus is the merchant. Jesus has come to seek and to save that which was lost. Jesus actively pursues us, seeks us, and He buys us with the greatest possible payment: His own life. We are precious to Him, bought with a price. We are His beloved bride, the Church – the pearl.

Consider the pearl. A pearl is the only precious jewel that is made by a living organism. It begins as a piece of dust, an irritant to the oyster, which transforms the dust into an item of great value. The center of the pearl is dust. When God created Adam, He formed him out of the dust of the earth. Dust hurts the oyster, just as our sins hurt the Lord. Instead of the oyster ejecting the dust, it slowly transforms it into a precious jewel. Jesus does not reject us for our sins but transforms us through listening to God’s word, participating in the life of the Church, receiving the Sacraments, and performing works of charity. He transforms us. We start to become more and more like our priceless Savior.

Reflecting on the parable in a more literal view, the Kingdom of God is like a merchant in search of fine pearls. The Kingdom of God is not the end result that we achieve after searching. The Kingdom of God is here. We live in the Kingdom, embracing the Kingdom, through the process of searching and seeking, through prayer, reading Scripture, and the Sacraments, that constitutes our spiritual life.  

What to say about the pearl itself? The pearl may represent that transforming union with Christ that is the end goal of the spiritual life. The Gospel passage gives no objective price, or value to the pearl. What will our companionship with the Lord be worth to us? It will be precious to us in proportion to what and how much we are willing to give of ourselves for it.

As we reflect on the Pearl of Great Price during Create Your Catholic Legacy Awareness Month, we are invited to consider not only what the Kingdom of God is worth to us in our hearts, but how that value is expressed in our lives. This invitation is not simply to admire the pearl, but to respond—to live with intention, to give with purpose, and to prayerfully discern how the gifts we have received might continue to serve the Church for generations to come. In this way, our search for the Kingdom becomes more than a personal journey; it becomes a lasting witness.

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Deacon Jack Hasson
Permanent Deacon for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia
Office and Advancement Coordinator for The Catholic Foundation