Gospel reading: Mt 6:19-23
Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and decay destroy, and thieves break in and steal. But store up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.
“The lamp of the body is the eye. If your eye is sound, your whole body will be filled with light; but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be in darkness. And if the light in you is darkness, how great will the darkness be.”
REFLECTIONS
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth
Jesus teaches us disciples to store treasures in heaven. Accumulating riches on earth is an exercise in futility.
Earthly treasures, like precious stones and money, are constantly threatened by thieves who also rob us of peace. Far more valuable is health in mind and body.
Many Christians fall into the trap of hoarding material wealth. It is hard to follow Christ when this becomes a way of life. There is wisdom in the teaching of Jesus; St. Francis of Assisi followed it literally and became like Jesus.
If ever we store treasures, it should be for others, in the spirit of stewardship. Some people who are blessed with material wealth are commended for their concern for the poor and the destitute. They attribute their success to God, not to their efforts. They consider themselves God’s instruments in dispensing his goods. They believe that, in giving to the needy, they are storing up for themselves treasures in heaven.
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Blessed are they who know what to treasure.
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SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord,” ST PAULS, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 895-9701; Fax 895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.
