STORE UP TREASURES IN HEAVEN

Matthew 6:19-23

Store up treasures in heaven because where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.” In today’s Gospel we continue our reflection on the Sermon on the Mountain. These passed days we have reflected on the practice of the three works of piety: alms giving (Mt 6, 1-4), prayer (Mt 6, 5-15) and fasting (Mt 6, 16-18). Today’s and tomorrow’s Gospel presents four recommendations on the relationship with material goods, explaining clearly how to live the poverty of the first Beatitude: (a) not to accumulate (Mt 6, 19-21); (b) to have a correct idea of material goods (Mt 6,22-23); (c) not serve two masters (Mt 6,24); (d) to abandon oneself to Divine Providence (Mt 6,25-34). Today’s Gospel presents the first two recommendations: not to accumulate goods 19-21) and not to look at the world with diseased eyes (6, 22-23).

Explaining these recommendations, Jesus makes a distinction between earthly treasure and heavenly treasure. He is saying that earthly treasure does not last; it ends; it goes away from our sight; it can be stole; it is temporal; it is passing. While heavenly treasure is not vulnerable to the attacks. Jesus shows that heavenly treasure is not only a longer lasting treasure but also it is a far greater treasure because it is in God’s hands. St. Paul in his letter to the Philippians, says: “I have come to rate all as loss in the light of the surpassing knowledge of my Lord Jesus Christ….I have accounted all else rubbish because of the supreme good of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord (Phil 3:7ff).

What does it mean to store up treasures in heaven? It is a question of knowing where I place the basis of my existence. If I place it on material goods of this earth, I always run the danger of losing what I have stored up. If I place it on God, nobody will be able to destroy it and I will have interior freedom to share with others what I possess.