The associated reading for this reflection can be found in your Every Sacred Sunday Mass journal or online here.
“My precious...” These are the infamous words which J.R.R. Tolkien’s Gollum uses in reference to the Ring of Power, which he possesses, and in reference to himself. When Gollum accidentally discovers a magical ring, he is so captivated by it that he leaves his home and family behind in order to protect the ring from being stolen. As the ring becomes his sole treasure and only companion, it changes him into a mutated creature who prefers the darkness. He even develops a split personality which torments him daily. Gollum’s tragic process can be seen as a parable about the effects of sin. Like a cycle of addiction, sin tends to split us down the middle. It divides our hearts even as it drives us into isolation.
As Gollum literally buries his treasure along with himself deep within a mountain, he becomes the antithesis of a disciple of Jesus.
Jesus announces another treasure, the value of which is so precious that it demands that one leave all things behind. This passionate pursuit, however, does not divide the disciple against herself, but leads to unity of heart. The fundamental difference between Gollum and the intentional disciple is the treasure each possesses. There is only one possession that can unify its bearer so remarkably: the kingdom of God and its king, Jesus Christ. When Jesus is our “pearl of great price” – when we love Him with all our hearts – He makes our hearts whole.
Gollum sells all things besides the self, and thus loses himself. The true disciple first sells the self, and then gains all things – the true self besides. Sin divides and torments our hearts. Jesus unifies and consoles our hearts when he becomes our treasure.
At the same time, however, these parables proclaim the God who pursues the human soul as His “pearl of great price.” Read in this way, these parables express God’s outlandish faithfulness and single-hearted devotion to us.
As a rule, you should never love anything or anyone wholeheartedly that does not love you the same. There is only One who can genuinely love you with all of His heart. Your Savior values you with a passionate and unified purpose. He sells all that He has so that He might possess you and call you “precious.”
Fr. Karl Romkema, C.S.C. is a Holy Cross priest and the associate pastor at St. Ignatius Martyr Parish and School in Austin, TX. In his free time, he loves rock climbing. During the current pandemic he has also taken up disc golf and Instagram.