Few things are more satisfying than a cold glass of water on a hot summer day. A decade ago, my wife and I made a big overseas trip to Italy. We visited the Roman Forum on a sweltering summer morning with nary a cloud in sight. When it was time for lunch, we went to a nearby restaurant, sat down at a table, and watched expectantly as our server whisked a cold bottle of water from the refrigerator and placed it before us. Even years later, the refreshment the water provided stands out.

         This Sunday, Jesus challenges us to reflect on how we recognize value. Jesus often warns of the difficulties that the rich and the comfortable will face at entering the kingdom of heaven. Thus, it might seem as a small irony that Jesus would analogize heaven to treasure in a field or a fine pearl and those who seek its graces to a merchant or a land speculator. What stands out, however, is that both people recognize true value when they see it. Both also are willing to make sacrifices to obtain the thing they value most.

         The most valuable things can be easy to overlook. Many times, I have sat down at a table and looked tepidly toward the glass of water sitting upon it, hoping for a different beverage to appear. It took the adversity of a hot day to truly appreciate water’s worth. When a particularly busy day awaits at work, I feel a deeper appreciation for the joy of morning Mass or a quiet moment of prayer. 

         Likewise, Jesus’s words lead us toward the relationships that matter most. I savor memories of dinners or drinks with good friends and the blessing of a pleasant conversation. On the same token, I feel challenged to reckon with the moments I succumb to distractions—such as the scrolling of a cell phone—instead of focusing on the people in my midst. 

         Time, money, and attention are among our most valuable commodities. How am I spending them, and what do my choices say about the things I value most?