Greetings, SBT Readers!

The world is burning -- and not with love! Canada, France, Italy, Spain, and Sicily are experiencing devastating fires, and here in the U.S., there are currently 72 fires raging across 14 states, with only one contained. Dangerous heat domes have scorched much of America, while European countries have recorded record-high temperatures—46.4°C in Sicily, for example, or 115.5°F!

We don't have to be King Solomon to understand that poor human choices have contributed to this escalating disaster. Our reliance on fossil fuels and petrochemicals, together with deforestation, factory farming, pollution, consumerism, and wastefulness, have all added fuel to the fire. Instead of thinking in terms of humanity, the "common good," and the well-being of future generations, mega-corporations continue to place profit before people. Their "treasure" piles up in fat bank accounts while the poor of this world bear the price of their insatiable greed.

Many Blessings,

Elizabeth

www.elizabeth-annestewart.com

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LINK TO SCRIPTURE READINGS

Jesus said to his disciples:

"The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field, which someone finds, hides again, and

joyfully sells everything to purchase that field. 

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant

searching for fine pearls. When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he owns and buys it.

Matthew 13:44-46

Sometimes, Jesus' parables leave us with basic questions that have little to do with the intended meaning. In the parable of the Buried Treasure, I am left wondering what the treasure-finder was doing in the field in the first place. If the treasure was buried, then the person who found it must have dug it up —and that suggests he or she was trespassing. As a small child in Malta, I remember venturing into fields to "sample" the cauliflower florets, all the while fearing that the farm dogs would give chase. Decades later, while accompanying American students to remote Maltese archaeological sites, I instructed everyone to make as much noise as possible because the fields we had to traverse were bird-hunting territory, and there was a risk of being shot if we were too quiet. Perhaps the treasure-finder in Jesus' parable was neither afraid of dogs nor weapons, but there was most likely some risk involved.

Perhaps the treasure-finder was like my high school archaeology mentor, Fr. George. When we went on an expedition, we would hike to some deserted spot. After surveying the land, he would say, "Dig," and we dug, invariably coming across ancient artifacts and even Punic tombs! Like Fr. George, the treasure-finder knew what to look for — perhaps signs that the ground had been disturbed, or that the vegetation was atypical.

To go to the trouble of trespassing and risk the accompanying dangers, one must have a strong sense of purpose, whether that be eating raw cauliflower, gaining access to antiquities, or literally finding something of great value. Further, to sell everything for the sake of that treasure — or that pearl of great price — requires single-mindedness, conviction, and the willingness to take risks. Like the merchant searching for fine pearls, the treasure-finder has insight, knows how to speculate, and is crafty enough to succeed. What the parable implies is that we are only worthy of the Kingdom of God if we pursue it with passion, whole-hearted effort, and the willingness to sacrifice everything for its sake. We cannot be lukewarm and follow Jesus, for the fire of Divine Love desires nothing less than sparks of fervent flame, a chain-reaction of glowing intensity, a conflagration of love...

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QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION



• In what ways does the treasure-finder have a heart that is "wise and understanding"?
• Why does the psalmist proclaim that God's Law is "more precious than thousands of gold and silver pieces"?
• What does the treasure in the field represent to you, and what investment must you make to secure it?
• What parallels do you see between the "bad fish" in this Sunday's Gospel and the weeds in last Sunday's Gospel?

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UPCOMING WORKSHOPS/ RETREATS

Archdiocese of Chicago Liturgy Formation Workshops

St. Elizabeth Seton, Orland Park. Aug 24, 26, 27. 7:00-9:00 p.m.

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Mother Cabrini Fall Formation Day

"Following Francis into Holy Folly: Embracing the Wisdom of Jesus." Mayslake, September 26, 2026.

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St. Mary of the Annunciation Women's Retreat

Sienna Center, Racine, WI. October 24-25, 2026 

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RESOURCES

Spiritual Self-Assessment:

https://assess.coach/eastewart/

Ministry Team Assessment: https://assess.coach/embracingpossibility