Friday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time
I live near a university. At the end of every academic year, students move out of their dorms, apartments, and houses. I’m always amazed by the sheer volume of belongings they bring out. Many of those items end up in the Goodwill trucks that come onto campus or in nearby dumpsters. That time of year also prompts me to review what I own and donate things I no longer need. Today’s Gospel reminds me of this annual event. Jesus tells 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” (Matthew 6:19-20). His words challenge us to look at what we store up and to consider what we truly treasure.
One obvious place to begin is with our physical possessions and material wealth. How do these things help us become better disciples? Are we good stewards of what we have been given?
We can also reflect on our time and talents. While we may not think of them as possessions, they are gifts entrusted to us by God. How do you spend your time? What abilities has God given you, and how do you use them to serve others?
Another area we may overlook is our interior life. What emotions or attitudes do we hold onto that keep us from growing closer to God? Do we cling to anger, resentment, prejudice, or harsh self-judgment? Letting go of these burdens can bring freedom, the freedom to love God and others more fully.
Jesus concludes, “For where your treasure is, there also your heart will be” (Matthew 6:21). When we examine what we treasure, we discover where our hearts truly lie. If our hearts are not centered on God, perhaps it is time to let go of whatever pulls us away from Him.
—Sr. Emily Sandoval, FMI