"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."
REFLECTION
store up treasures in heaven
I grew up in a world of lay away plans, dog-earing the Sears Roebuck catalogue, and dreaming and hoping Santa would bring the right doll. I learned to be detached from material things because we could not afford them. But then, I also became aware that if I saved, worked hard enough I could accumulate material goods…the very things I did not have growing up.
Now I could live the life that others had. In a world of self gratification, self indulgence and self preservation, I was headed into accumulating and hoarding. My idea of leaving poverty behind was to spend. If the Jones’ went on vacation, so could we. I finally fit in …at last prosperity... having more and more.
God’s unlimited and unconditional love did not let go of me and finally catching me, showed me the path I was headed. In His benevolence, He introduced me to good priests and people who needed help, care, the homeless, the sick. I remember especially the children street beggars outside of a posh restaurant in Mexico City as we stuffed our faces at the all you can eat buffet. We can analyze and discuss all we want the motives, agenda and the intended sympathy bonds created by the beggars, BUT, The good Lord touched my heart and reminded me of when I, too, had little.
We are all children of God.
Every detail in my life has been choreographed by God and I freely choose to dance with Him or go rogue. Where would my free will take me? “The seed of God’s Word has been sown in my heart. What kind of ground have I prepared for Him? “ (St Jose Maria Escriva)
Where is my treasure? Mine is Christ. To make more room for Him I must get rid of things and let more Love in.
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