The things we treasure

 ‘… strive first for the kingdom of God …..’ (Matt 6:33)

Matthew 6:24-34 (Year A: The Sunday before Lent Sunday 26^th February 2017)

[This passage from the Gospel of Matthew – 6:24-34 is used this Sunday in the Roman Catholic Church.  Other churches designate this Sunday as ‘Transfiguration Sunday’ and use Matthew 17:1-9.  For a previous blog on this site on the latter passage see here]

For some reason, the liturgists omitted the verses that precede this Sunday’s passage from the Gospel of Matthew. In Matthew 6:21 Jesus says:

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

But, what do we treasure?  When asked, many might see health, enough income and happiness for themselves and their loved ones. Yet, it seems that a lot of human effort and energy goes into the ‘extras’ like owning a bit more or owning a bit more than others, being well regarded (as distinct from loved), securing the future financially and climbing some ladder of power and responsibility. Do these things bring whatever it is we treasure the most? Or, have we substituted shoddy treasures for the real treasure within?

Only the individual can try to answer these questions in the quiet of his or her conscience.

It is all very easy for some of us blessed with health, relative wealth and positive relationships to say to those who may lack some or all of these: ‘Do not worry!’ or ‘Trust in God!’ By all means it is when we sense of a lack of these goods that we must trust all the more because whatever it is that we are going through here and now is, can be, will be for our good – believing that the love of God for us may seem lost.

Staying and resting in the present moment is a simple thing to understand but altogether difficult to achieve.

A child plays on the sand making castles. She is completely absorbed in the pleasure of task. Past is not relevant. The future is not there. Just now.  That child is you, me, us.  Now we see the child as an adult – racked by the past and the future and everything besides. Unable to focus properly, to listen, to receive, to give.

To live the present moment is to live in that moment in freedom and Grace – Grounded, Relaxed, Attentive, Calm and Enthusiastic. Self-mastery is the fruit of living thus.  But, worry can never be exorcised – at least not entirely.  Only trust in a better future, in a noble purpose and in a higher being can carry me along. In this way, the past is healed, restored and transformed in the here and now.  The future is created only in the present moment. The present moment is the sacrament of God’s loving presence. No need to travel far, to undertake onerous spiritual exercises, to engage in many prayers, to strive and strive again. Rather, see, taste, breathe, hear, touch the present moment.  There God meets us – really.