Set Your Heart on Lasting Heavenly Treasures

: Written by: Rev. Fr. Paul Gaa; Category: Reflections by Rev. Fr. Paul Gaa; Last Updated: 28 April 2024; Hits: 22

Treasure

Friday, June 22, 2018

TODAY'S REFLECTION - FRIDAY- 11TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
Saints Paulinus of Nola, bishop, John Fisher, bishop and Thomas More, married man, martyr
2 Kings 11:1-4,9-18,20/Psalm 131:11-14,17-18/ Matthew 6:19-23

SET YOUR HEART ON LASTING HEAVENLY TREASURES
Beloved, in our today's first reading, Athaliah, the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, is behaving like her mother. She wanted her son Ahaziah to become the king of Judah. But unfortunately, he was killed by Jehu (2 Kings 9:27). This made Athaliah (reminding us of "Atta Ayi, the notorious armed robber"), to cruelly usurp the political throne of Judah, after killing the Royal family members. She didn't know Jehosheba had hidden Joash, the king' s son. Athaliah's treasure/ heart was in power, luxury, Baalism and all kinds of evil. These didn't last for her. She was killed within seven years. Today, we remember the bad legacy which she left. Must we kill in order to rule?

Friends, Jesus, in our today's Gospel reading encourages us to think about where to store our treasure. These days, we have a number of flashy, but not durable products. We can also think of people who buried gold, cowries and other valuable things which cannot be traced now. We also remember people who have died with talents, wealth, fat bank accounts, etc and the owners are no more. How much real security can one find in money and power? Don't kingdoms rise and fall? Doesn't money depreciate? We should be mindful of the fact that our talents, virtues, good deeds, character, etc become beneficial, when they are generously shared with others, but not selfishly stored for oneself alone. For Jesus, our generosity in love, will gain us much more interest in hundred fold in heaven. We should not be blind towards the needy around us. We should be conscious of their plight and do something. Good deeds live forever, not money or power. What am I jealously guiding or holding onto? Will it last? Will it help me to inherit eternal life?

Let us pray for those who have killed others or are still planning to kill others in order to be in power. We also pray for the grace to store up our treasure in heaven and put our hearts on lasting heavenly treasure. BE BLESSED.

Fr. Gaa (0206854323/0240308878) This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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