“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
Excerpt, Gospel Reading, Friday 21st June 2024 – MATTHEW 6:19-23.
So, according to the story of creation of the world, this is what God after creating man in His image and likeness later have to say, and, I quote, “Then the LORD said, “My Spirit will not contend with humans forever, for they are mortal; their days will be a hundred and twenty years.” – GENESIS 6:3.
In like manner, in a latter part of the Holy Bible, another reference is made once again on the duration of man’s age, and once again, I quote, “The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength, eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away.” – PSALM 90:10.
The latter is that which seems most arduous even by merely hearing it.
Now, if Christ talks about laying up our treasures in heaven where they cannot be destroyed, it then implies that, heaven actually exists and such treasures would be valuable to us.
So, for those who still have confusion about the existence of heaven and hell, this comes as an evidence to dispel our doubts that they actually do exist.
Christ Jesus said he has gone to prepare a home for us where we will join him as co-heirs to spend our eternity.
Now, let’s just assume for the purpose of scientific accuracy that eternity could mean the same 120 years allotted for man on earth, would you want to spend your own in a repeat of your life now or life at the place where Christ said he has gone to prepare?
We may want to reflect on that while we enjoy the weekend.
Nevertheless, having established the fact that there is heaven, what then is meant by storing up treasures?
One may even be tempted to ask if it’s possible to acquire worldly treasures as well as store up treasures in heaven.
In the pursuit of acquisitions of this world like real estate, automobiles, jewelleries, wrist watches, liquor, etc, one may be so caught up in such avarices so much so that God may soon be consigned to one corner and forgotten there.
Moreover, is it not most of us with plenty of all these possessions that are yet most affected by high blood pressure?
Is it not we who mostly need sleep induced medications to sleep?
These are just some of the effects of concentrating on storing up treasures on earth.
The constant worries and concern for this and for that end up causing longer days and shorter nights.
Meanwhile, because of the constant overtime we must have subjected our mind and brain, even those shorter nights could be bereft of sleep, hence, we resort to sleep inducing medications.
Pretty soon, we will find ourselves abusing the medications as they seem not to have much effect on us again.
Then, we may soon start drinking strong spirits to assuage for the ineffectiveness of the sleep inducing pills.
Before we know it, it has become a lifestyle which would gradually degenerate to us having HBP.
Now, would we say it was the lack of sleep or the liquor taken with the sleeping pills that caused our ailment?
Of course not. One’s heart as said above in today’s teaching, is where one’s treasure is.
Nevertheless, one is not saying acquiring luxuries is not good and should be avoided. Far be it from that. It is never the presumption.
By all means, we should acquire and enjoy as much luxury as we can rightfully afford and as would make us happy.
However, it is when we eventually live our life for that instead of having such to compliment our life that it starts becoming a burden and a thing for concern.
Therefore, if we can set boundaries and strictly respect them, then it will be possible to have and enjoy our earthly treasures and still store up treasures for ourselves in heaven.
At all times, we must never allow ourselves to forget that things are meant to be used and people should be loved and not the other way round. Once we know this and keep it, of course, we can possibly have and do both.
When we live not only for ourselves but also for others, we are storing up treasures for ourselves in heaven.
So, my dear friend, live and lets live.
Folks, have a fantastic day and a pleasant weekend.
#SAINT_ALOYSIUS_GONZAGA! #Blessed_Carlo_Acutis! #Pray_for_us!
– Akase F. Agabo.