Whenever we get something new we make sure to look after it. We make all sorts of promises that we will keep it in pristine condition. Of course there are people who keep things perfect and looking new for years, but the ordinary mortal lets things slip.
So often it is the same in our relationships with people. We try to impress. We charm, we make it an art to show off the best side of ourselves. With the passing of time we stop trying to impress, and there is always the temptation to take other people for granted.
The enthusiasm the pupil shows in the first days in the new school quickly wanes. Starting off in a new job we make sure to impress, but nobody can keep up that sort of interest and enthusiasm.
St Matthew in Chapter 13:14-52 relates how Jesus tells his followers that the person who finds a treasure makes sure to keep it and value it. He also mentions the merchant who finds a pearl of great value, sells everything he owns and buys it.
Modern advertising stresses that we need a particular product because it will enhance our lives. The new car will be more comfortable, safer and more spacious. The latest computer will open up all sorts of possibilities for us.
But it is like the new toy a child gets at Christmas: the novelty wears off and in everyday life we take things for granted as new issues appear on the horizon.
It seems to be the same with all the great gifts and qualities we have. It is very easy for us to take them for granted and forget about them. It is only when we are sick that we learn to appreciate our good health. Very often it is after a tragic loss in a family that we recognise the gift of the other person. Far too often we leave it to funerals to express our love for one another.
The Gospels emphasise the importance of appreciating and valuing our treasure, which is God's creation. It is all around us and it is found in the simplest everyday things. Unfortunately, we can dull our minds, allow ourselves to be "dumbed down", lose our sense of appreciation. It requires work and discipline to keep ourselves finely tuned so that we can appreciate the gifts of God.
But there is also another dimension; we believe that God's grace works in us. It is not just a question of working by ourselves. We are assured of the help of the supernatural. That challenge should spur us on to go that step further.
It's not good enough to say we are bored or we don't believe. Too often that can be the lazy way out. The ability to appreciate treasure, to spot the beautiful, may not come at the flick of a switch. We have to acquire a taste for the good and the beautiful. And once we get the feel of that, once we get beyond the first few pages, there will be no limit to what we can achieve.
That pilgrimage reaches its summit in communion with God. It is only there that the hints, the glimpses, even the inspiration ends with the full picture. But right now it's our business to see the work of God in all creation. M.C.