Treasure

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/073116.cfm) reminds me of the kind of treasure I should store up. 

When we say treasure, what usually comes to mind is a treasure chest filled with gold and precious items. That is what we see in cartoons and movies. However, not all treasures are worldly. Worldly treasures are easy to lose and spend. Mauubos at mauubos ito. No matter how much we have or how slowly we use it up. It is finite. What is more important are heavenly treasures. 

While it is good to save and accumulate treasures in life, we should also store up heavenly treasures. 

In the first reading, we see what earthly treasures are : vanity. Everything in this world will stay in this world. Vanity. Temporary. Superficial. The second reading then teaches us what is important - to seek what is above and not what is here on earth. In the gospel we are reminded why it is foolish to focus too much on worldly things and riches. God can take us away from this world anytime. And whatever riches and treasures we accumulate on this world will remain on this world. We cannot take it to where we are going. That is why we should store up heavenly treasures as well. 

Good news! We can use our earthly treasures to store up heavenly ones!

Money is not inherently bad. If we are in the proper disposition, money can do a lot of good things. I believe God blesses us so we can bless others. The more we are blessed, the more we should give it away so it can bless others as well. This is how earthly riches should be used - for God's purpose and kingdom. We should not be attached to them, but use them for God's greater glory. The more we give up for God, the more God transforms us to become more like him, the more we store up heavenly treasures to prepare our place in eternity. 

May we know how to use our earthly treasures well, and do it. 

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another chance to love and serve you. Thank you for another Sunday. Thank you for the reminder. Lord, sorry for the times I focus too much on earthly treasures. Sorry for the times I let the world get into me. Help me live right. Help me use my earthly treasures to store up heavenly ones. Fill me with your love and remind me that you are always there for me. Fill me with your love and transform me to be more like you. I know that this will help me put things in perspective and will enable me to be generous with my blessings, because I know you would continue to provide for me. Use my treasures for your kingdom and your purpose. Amen. 

Blessed Sunday!

In Christ,

-g-

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July 31, 2016
Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 114

Reading 1 Ecc 1:2; 2:21-23

Vanity of vanities, says Qoheleth,
vanity of vanities! All things are vanity!

Here is one who has labored with wisdom and knowledge and skill,
and yet to another who has not labored over it,
he must leave property.
This also is vanity and a great misfortune.
For what profit comes to man from all the toil and anxiety of heart
with which he has labored under the sun?
All his days sorrow and grief are his occupation;
even at night his mind is not at rest.
This also is vanity.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 90:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14, 17

R. (1) If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
You turn man back to dust,
saying, “Return, O children of men.”
For a thousand years in your sight
are as yesterday, now that it is past,
or as a watch of the night.
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
You make an end of them in their sleep;
the next morning they are like the changing grass,
Which at dawn springs up anew,
but by evening wilts and fades.
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Teach us to number our days aright,
that we may gain wisdom of heart.
Return, O LORD! How long?
Have pity on your servants!
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Fill us at daybreak with your kindness,
that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days.
And may the gracious care of the LORD our God be ours;
prosper the work of our hands for us!
Prosper the work of our hands!
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

Reading 2 Col 3:1-5, 9-11

Brothers and sisters:
If you were raised with Christ, seek what is above,
where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.
Think of what is above, not of what is on earth.
For you have died,
and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
When Christ your life appears,
then you too will appear with him in glory.

Put to death, then, the parts of you that are earthly:
immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire,
and the greed that is idolatry.
Stop lying to one another,
since you have taken off the old self with its practices
and have put on the new self,
which is being renewed, for knowledge,
in the image of its creator.
Here there is not Greek and Jew,
circumcision and uncircumcision,
barbarian, Scythian, slave, free;
but Christ is all and in all.

Alleluia Mt 5:3

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Lk 12:13-21

Someone in the crowd said to Jesus,
“Teacher, tell my brother to share the inheritance with me.”
He replied to him,
“Friend, who appointed me as your judge and arbitrator?”
Then he said to the crowd,
“Take care to guard against all greed,
for though one may be rich,
one’s life does not consist of possessions.”

Then he told them a parable.
“There was a rich man whose land produced a bountiful harvest.
He asked himself, ‘What shall I do,
for I do not have space to store my harvest?’
And he said, ‘This is what I shall do:
I shall tear down my barns and build larger ones.
There I shall store all my grain and other goods
and I shall say to myself, “Now as for you,
you have so many good things stored up for many years,
rest, eat, drink, be merry!”’
But God said to him,
‘You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you;
and the things you have prepared, to whom will they belong?’
Thus will it be for all who store up treasure for themselves
but are not rich in what matters to God.”