17th Sunday of the year Year A

No matter how materially fulfilled or economically prosperous we may be, if we are not physically and mentally healthy, and if our minds are unstable both spiritually and psychologically, without true peace of mind, we cannot truly say that we are living happily.
We work hard to acquire money and possessions in an attempt to make our lives happy. These are certainly important for survival. Those of us fortunate enough to acquire these things may be enjoying the springtime of life. However, can we truly be completely satisfied and live a peaceful life with such possessions?
The human heart, strangely enough, is structured in a way that it cannot be satisfied by the happiness obtained from money and possessions. No matter how wealthy and privileged one's life may be, the human heart will not find peace.
The philosopher, theologian, and scientist Pascal, in his work "Pensées," said that "there is a great void in the human heart created by God." In other words, "there is a great space created by God in the human heart," or "there is an empty space in the human heart."
All humans try to fill the empty space in their hearts with various things. Some try to fill the void with "status." Some try to fill it with "honor." Some try to fill it with "wealth." Some try to fill it with "encounters." Some try to fill it with "pleasure." Some try to fill it with "a life of faith."

However, no matter how much or what you try to fill it with,
no matter how much you put in, nothing will fit perfectly,
and the gaps will only widen, and the emptiness will only increase.
The philosopher Pascal said, "That void cannot be filled by anything other than God. It is a void in the shape of God." In other words, the "void," the "empty space" in our hearts, is in the shape of God. Therefore, it cannot be filled by anything other than God.
The philosopher Pascal is trying to tell each of us that "we are not people who live as if God does not exist, but rather that the existence of God is indispensable to us." As it says in Matthew 6:33, "Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness," meaning that once you do what you are supposed to do and live righteously, you should entrust yourself to God without worrying unnecessarily. As it says in Psalm 127:1-2, "Unless God himself builds it, the builder's labor is in vain; unless God himself watches over it, the watchman's watchfulness is in vain." In other words, "God's support is essential" in daily life.

Today's Gospel reading is about "The man who found the treasure sold all his possessions and bought the field."

What is that "treasure"? Moreover, if you have that "treasure," you don't need anything else. For us here, isn't that "treasure" cherishing "faith in God"?

Since coming to Nanzan High School and Junior High School for Boys, a question I've often been asked by students is, "Do you believe in God, teacher?" To this question, I always reply to my students, "It's better to believe in something in everyday life than to believe in nothing. I believe in God. You don't have to believe in God. But at the very least, believe in yourselves. If you don't believe in yourself, who will believe in you?"
When I think about what "belief" means, I'm always reminded of the words of the philosopher Bergson.
"Belief" is not a capacity that humans acquire, but rather a kind of instinct that is already given to everyone, and blossoms when a certain event occurs.
"Believing in God" is actually already planted in everyone's heart. It will grow if given the right opportunity. As the philosopher Bergson said, it "blossoms when a certain event occurs." However, unfortunately, in reality, such opportunities and triggers rarely occur.
Why is that? Perhaps we still haven't done enough to convey to people the treasure and pearl of "faith in God." If we strive even harder to share our faith in God, a treasure and a pearl, with others, this world will be filled with more joy and hope.

"Looking back, life is so short and fleeting. It's like morning dew; it shines brightly in the morning and is blown away by the midday wind. No matter how busy we are, let us remember to make more time to share our faith in God, a treasure and a pearl, with those close to us, especially our family, friends, and loved ones," as we embark on this week's journey.