The gospel today is thought-provoking. It brings to focus the challenge of men and women regarding future security of life for themselves and their families. As one begins to grow old, he or she is worried over the uncertainties of life. The anxiety of death and “life after” begins to set in. One begins to think of what to do in securing the future when one grows old; whether he will be healthy or not; how to provide care for himself and still put food on the table; whether to go to a care home or live independently in his or her house or get careers to support him or her; whether he has the pension or the wherewithal to live a comfortable life.
The Uncertainties of Life
This is a great worry for people especially as we do not have the power of the future in our hands. A lot of people have witnessed people who have saved to care for themselves in old age and could not live to enjoy the savings. Some others have saved but due to health challenges, could not remember where the savings have been kept or stored. Some of those who remember where it was kept in the bank could no longer sign cheque to withdraw their savings due to ill health. Some have saved through some pension schemes but could not live to benefit from the pension they have toiled for years to build. Some have saved through various other schemes that collapsed even before they could reach their retirement age, and you could see them losing thousands of dollars of investments which they have made to secure their future when they retire.
That notwithstanding, there are some others who have been lucky to benefit from their savings and their pensions. Yet at the zero hour, the trusted material goods, or security they have built, are abandoned in a twinkle of an eye. That is to say that we don’t know the future and what it holds for us. That anxiety of what might happen is always there because the future, and the end of life are beyond the power of men and women to perceive.
Jesus’ Counsel
Jesus must have witnessed this anxiety among his disciples and followers. Hence, to save them from such worry he, therefore, counsels them saying: “Do not store up treasures for yourselves on earth, where moths and woodworms destroy them, and thieves can break in and steal. But, store up treasures for yourselves in heaven where neither moth nor woodworms destroy them, and thieves cannot break in and steal” (Mt 6:19-20).
A lot of people who have stored up treasures for themselves in one way or the other have lost them directly or indirectly. When we lose them or could not live to enjoy them, they are lost. Even when we do enjoy them, we cannot finish everything we have gotten in life before we depart. Something must remain… clothes, property, or savings. We must leave something behind before departing. And if we have not stored in God’s own saving storeroom or safe keep, what becomes of us when we join our ancestors? That is the reason behind Jesus calling our attention on where to store our treasure so that our minds will rest assured of the future. Storing our treasures in God’s safe keeping is protected eternally in his own hands.
The Store of Heaven
We store up treasures for ourselves in heaven by not being selfish; by sharing with the poor and the less privileged in the society, by investing in human beings and creating future life for them; by putting shelter on others; by clothing the naked; by providing care to everyone and promoting justice, peace, and love in our communities. These and more are the treasures which everyone can provide. They are, sometimes, immaterial things and do not need one to toil much to give them out to others and score points for himself or herself. And that is the treasure that assures hope of eternity. Thus, Jesus says: “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Mt 6:23). We are called to put our treasure in God’s hands and not where the uncertainties of our possessions and future keep us always awake and worried.
Peace be with you!
