11th Week of Ordinary Time 2021 - Friday - Earthly or Heavenly Treasure

 When Jesus says “do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth” he is not imposing a ban on all possessions, of course; it is not a sin for us to own things. The Catechism speaks of a right to private property. Nor is Jesus forbidding us to “stock up” and save for times of famine.  The book of proverbs tells us to look to the example of the ant that stores up in the summer for what it will need in the winter and calls foolish those who make no provisions for their families or the future.

We do well to make good prudent use of the material goods of the earth, but we must not treasure them, or live for them, especially at the cost of our spiritual welfare. Holiness cannot be measured by the size one of one’s bank account. 

We are to be particularly on guard against materialism. Holy Father Pope Francis has spoken often about the dangers of materialism. Recently he said, “Whenever material things, money, worldliness, become the center of our lives, they take hold of us, they possess us; we lose our very identity as human beings”.  Materialism, he says, makes us “self-absorbed” and “finding security in material things ultimately rob us of our face, our human face.”

Instead of loving people and using things, Materialism leads us to use people and love things—to treat others as material goods for our own pleasure.  It is not a coincidence that as materialism spreads so does pornography, prostitution, human trafficking, and sexual violence.  

We all do well to examine our lifestyles in light of Jesus’ teaching today. Do we love people and use things, or have we begun to love things and use people? Have we begun to take false security and false trust in the goods of the earth? Are we guilty of excessive accumulation?

Rather than living for the earthly, the Lord calls engage in the heavenly, to store up treasure in heaven—to engage in the works that merit heavenly grace. Rather than being servants of Mammon, His disciples are to be wholeheartedly devoted to works of holiness: prayer, fasting, almsgiving, and the corporal and spiritual works of charity. 

May the Holy Spirit help each of us to be faithful to the teaching of Jesus, to be free from all that keeps us from loving God and neighbor with undivided hearts, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That our nation’s bishops, concluding their spring General Assembly, may be guided by the Holy Spirit in their deliberations and their call to work for Church unity and the clear and courageous witness of the Gospel. Let us pray to the Lord.

That government leaders around the world may carry out their duties with justice, honesty, and respect for freedom and the dignity of human life.  Let us pray to the Lord.

For the Church’s missions amongst the poor and unevangelized throughout the world, that the work of Christ may be carried out with truth and love. Let us pray to the Lord.

For the grace to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, to love our neighbors and enemies and those who persecute us, and to share the truth of the Gospel with all.  Let us pray to the Lord.

For all those who share in the sufferings of Christ—the sick, the sorrowful, and those who are afflicted or burdened in any way.  Let us pray to the Lord.

For the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish, for the deceased priests and religious of the diocese of Cleveland, for the poor souls in purgatory, and for those who have fought and died for our freedom. Let us pray to the Lord.

O God, who know that our life in this present age is subject to suffering and need, hear the prayers of those who cry to you and receive the prayers of those who believe in you. Through Christ our Lord.