Friday of Week 11 in Ordinary Time
2 Cor 11:18,21-30
Mt 6:19-23
“Do not store up treasures for yourselves on earth…”
We all know that we should not store up treasures on earth. So it doesn’t hurt to be reminded again and again because we often forget. After a while, we start to buy things we don’t really need and we also start to hoard. Recently, a friend reminded me about hand-me-downs from parents who have passed on. Daughters and daughters-in-law often covet those precious jewellery from parents and grandparents. But honestly, how many necklaces, bracelets and rings do we need? How often can we wear them out, especially when special occasions are rare for me these days. When it’s our time to go, they are going to continue to be passed down to our children and grandchildren. Will they appreciate vintage or retro jewellery as much as we do? Honestly, very few do.
Hoarding old jewellery is a classic example of the number of ‘treasures’ that we store for ourselves. I used to work very hard in order to save up to buy a designer handbag, an expensive watch or nice pair of shoes. Shopping was my favourite pastime as it was often treated as stress-relief retail therapy. But as I grew older (though I’m not very old yet), I got wiser. Thanks to God’s wisdom, I now understand that nothing that I’ve worked to gain materially will go with me to my eternal home. We are born naked and we will return home with nothing as well (but hopefully not naked). In fact, lately my mission has been to clear out the clutter of life and my past. I keep reminding myself that if I don’t clear out my stuff, especially things that are of sentimental value, my children will have to carry the burden of clearing and tossing things that have no value to them. I learnt this after my dad passed, when my brother and I had to clear out my parents’ house. One example is after I have decided to keep their large wedding photograph, I now wonder if my children will mercifully keep it out of duty, or throw it out guiltily when I’m gone. I think I will have to help them with that decision.
It is also every parent’s duty to ensure that we provide the best for our children. But does that make us guilty of storing up treasures on earth? I think it runs the risk when we overindulge and over worry about the future material needs of our children. What I’m more concerned with is their spirituality and whether their faith is strong enough to carry them through every trial in their adult years. I have been trying and praying very hard for my children to hopefully one day experience a conversion in their faith as I did. Without sounding like a cliche, the gifts of great faith and to be able to experience God’s love are much more valuable than any treasures on earth.
The true treasures that we should be working hard and storing up for ourselves are the things we do for God. To be his vineyard worker is to scatter the seeds of faith, help to water the vines so that they can grow, also feed his lost sheep with truth, give alms whenever we can, be charitable by carrying and bringing Jesus to others. The true treasures are also the fruits of the holy spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, faithfulness, kindness, gentleness and self control. When we have these fruits in us, we can then be “the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14) to those around us.
Brothers and sisters, let others be attracted to the light of Christ in us. Only then we are building and storing up the treasure, not for this earth but for God’s kingdom.
(Today’s OXYGEN by Cynthia Chew)
Prayer: Most holy Father, may we work hard not to store treasures for ourselves on earth, but to help others know that the true treasures lie in the eternal hope of your kingdom. Amen
Thanksgiving: Thank you Jesus, for all that you’ve been doing and what you will do for us. May we hold on to this trust and hope in you always.
OXYGEN 
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