A podcast that I enjoy listening to is “Office Hours” by Arthur Brooks.  In a recent episode entitled, “How to Stay in Love with your Soulmate”, Arthur and his wife Ester share about their journey as a couple and how they have learned that you need to take risks and be vulnerable if you want to know love.  Taking risks and being vulnerable not in the sense of being reckless or doing something foolish but being willing to step out of that which we find comfortable and familiar.  Arthur chose to be vulnerable when he decided to travel to Barcelona, Spain without even knowing the language, in order to take a job playing in the City Orchestra of Barcelona.  Even though he has not continued in music, it was that choice that allowed him to meet his future wife Ester who also was a musician in the orchestra.  They were attracted to each other even though neither one of them knew the other’s language.  They each took the risk to learn each other’s language and cultures.  Ester, herself, traveled to the US in order to remain in relationship with Arthur even though she was not 100% sure that he would be at the airport to meet her when she arrived.  They both took risks – not reckless ones but choosing a vulnerability that stretched them beyond what they found comfortable and familiar.   

Arthur Brooks makes the point that love is not the reward for avoiding risk, rather it is the fruit of accepting vulnerability. 

In today’s gospel, our Lord gives us some compelling imagery regarding the Kingdom of God – a treasure buried in a field and a pearl of great price.  But connected with these objects are actions that are taken – the man goes and sells all that he has in order to buy the field, the merchant sells all he has in order to acquire the pearl.  The focus here is not on what is given up but on what is truly gained and, in both instances, the person takes a risk, become vulnerable.  The person lets go of everything in order to attain that which is of greatest value. 

The action of the person, the willingness to become truly vulnerable, is part of the dynamic of the Kingdom of God.  Love is not the reward for avoiding risk, rather it is the fruit of accepting vulnerability. 

In the first reading, the Lord comes to Solomon in a dream and tells Solomon that he will be given whatever he asks for.  What does Solomon do?  He admits his vulnerability before God.  “I am a mere youth, not knowing at all how to act” and yet he has been called to serve God’s people as king.  In that vulnerability, he asks for an understanding heart.  God is pleased with his request and it is granted.  “I give you a heart so wise and understanding…”  Here is a lesson for all of us.  Do we want to please the Creator of all?  Then, be honest, be vulnerable. 

In their discussion on the podcast, Ester (who has a graduate degree in Catholic theology) points out that in Hebraic thought, the “heart” is not just the seat of emotions but also the seat of intellect and will.  The “heart” really is all of who we are.  With this understanding, we then see that, “Give your servant, therefore, an understanding heart..,” is (in fact) a very bold request.  Solomon is taking a risk and he is taking that risk not despite of but out of his vulnerability. 

The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field and the man goes and “out of joy” sells all he has to buy the field.  The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant who finds a pearl of great price, he sells all he has and buys it.  The parables invite us to let go of those things we cling to (to become vulnerable) in order to receive that which of the greatest value. 

Love is not the reward for avoiding risk.  It is the fruit of accepting vulnerability.