20 October, Monday — Where Are Your Treasures?

Monday of Week 29 in Ordinary Time

Rm 4:20-25
Lk 12:13-21

“Watch, and be on your guard against avarice of any kind, for a man’s life is not made secure by what he owns, even when he has more than he needs.”

Avarice. According to the Oxford Dictionary, avarice is extreme greed for wealth or material things. In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus warned us about avarice — the insatiable and disordered desire for wealth and material things. Jesus spoke of a parable where a rich man held such confidence on his riches, planning to eat, drink and be merry for many years. Yet, little did the rich man know that his life, his soul, would be demanded of him that very night. Thus, Jesus warns us not to be fooled into thinking that our security lies with what we own, even when we have more than we need.

Security to most people is very important. There are various kinds of security: financial, job, home, relationships, etc. These are undoubtedly important; there is no denying that we all need security. However, there is a difference between disordered attachment and simple utilization. What do I mean by that? For illustration purposes, let’s take wealth accumulation for example. There is nothing wrong with working hard and striving to improve your personal or family situation, to store up for a rainy day. However, if the desire for security drives you to an insatiable desire to amass wealth and a disordered attachment to material goods, to the extent that you rely solely on things of this world to satisfy your every need, then you are heading into dangerous territory. You are in great danger of losing yourself and, more importantly, your soul.   

Remember that our forever home is not of this earth, we are but sojourners. Whatever we accumulate on this good earth, we will have no use for in heaven. For God places importance not on earthly riches, but the treasures of our heart. Our true security is with Jesus, who secures our salvation by His Cross and Resurrection.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Winnie Kung)

Prayer: My precious Lord, please grant us the wisdom to recognise the true treasure of Heaven; help us to be thankful in all circumstances.

Thanksgiving: Heavenly Father, we thank you for Your love and mercy, for calling us by name and wanting us to be Your children.