STORE UP FOR YOURSELVES AN ETERNAL TREASURE
Looking at the treasures of God's Kingdom is truly a present and future reality for those who seek them.
Jesus used the images of a treasure and eyesight to convey the hidden truth of God's Kingdom. What Jesus said about treasure made perfect sense to the people of His time - keep what lasts! Aren't we all trying to find the treasure that will bring us the most security and happiness? Jesus contrasts two very different kinds of wealth, material and spiritual. He urges the disciples to become rich by investing in that which truly lasts, not just for a lifetime, but for all eternity.
Today, many financial institutions do a lot of advertising to get people to invest their money in saving accounts. Since the amount of interest they may pay is controlled by law and usually identical with every institution, they resort to all kinds of gimmicks to get people to save with them. There is certainly prudence in saving, no doubt, but how much real security can we find in money? Jesus says, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and decay destroy, and thieves break in and steal" (Mt 6:19). Jesus' words are verified by an economy characterized by recession and general instability. The truth is that money has no intrinsic worth; it only represents values other than itself.
Looking at the treasures of God's Kingdom is truly a present and future reality for those who seek them. What are the treasures that Jesus so freely offers to us? It is the joy of knowing the Living God, being united with Him, and receiving the inheritance of an imperishable Kingdom; a Kingdom of peace, joy, and righteousness. Jesus is eager for us to store up these treasures which cannot depreciate in value.
We also read in today's Gospel that "The lamp of the body is the eye" (Mt 6:22). Jesus uses the image of eyesight to convey an important spiritual principle. Bad eyesight is often used as a metaphor for spiritual blindness. The eye is the window of the heart, mind, and "inner being" of a person. If the window is clouded, dirty, or marred in any manner, the light will be deflected and diminished. Just so with the "inner being" of a person! How we "see" affects the "inner life", "heart", and "soul" of are own lives.
When we look at our own savings accounts and at the interest on our money, it is only a fraction more than what it is worth in itself. Remember that Jesus has promised that our generosity in love will gain much more interest than that. All we need to do to aide us in sharing our love with one another and with those around us, is to look into each other's eyes - really look!!!
"For the lamp of the body is the eye!"