“sells all that he has” Why do the people in the parables sell all they own? They go and sell off everything because they realize that nothing in their life is worth much, compared to what they had found. When we realize what the true worth of the kingdom of Heaven, we will not want to live for this world. Let’s face it, we live in a materialistic, consumerist world. Our whole country and economy are based on the idea that we will spend money. We are taught to think we should live for a big house, stuff to put in that house, at least one car per person, and other things to fill our lives at a constant basis. When we begin to live our lives not just within our means, but to the bear bone, not out of spite or pride. We live life knowing the treasures on this earth will never fulfill our deepest desires, our deepest longings for truth, and bring us eternal joy that only the kingdom of Heaven can bring to us. Why is it good to live with less? We come into this world with nothing but our body and eternal soul and that is how we go out of this world. A priest once said, “You will never see a U-Haul truck driving behind a hearse”, meaning we will not be carrying our possessions with us to the grave when we die. Everything that we acquire is left to our friends and loved ones. The desire to fill our hearts with the possessions of the world is not a modern desire, but a human desire. In the time of Saint Basil the Great (300’s) people wasted their money just as we do now. “Do you not see how people throw away their wealth on theatrical performances, boxing contests, mimes and fights between men and wild beasts, which are sickening to see, and all for the sake of fleeting honor and popular applause?” Saint Augustine, who also lived in the 300’s, challenged the people of his time, and us as well, when he asks, “What do you possess, if you possess not God?” When we live with less, we do not run the risk of the things to control our lives. Where our heart is, there our faith is. Jesus teaches us, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and decay destroys, and thieves break in and steal. But store up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor decay destroy, nor thieves break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.” If our heart cannot see the riches of the kingdom but only focus and love of the riches of the earth, then it is not with God. This is why many religious orders take the vow of poverty, because if their focus is on possessions, then they cannot focus on what is more important which is God. Jesus himself, from what we know, lived a very minimalist life. He had just enough things to keep Him going but was able to be constantly moving. Jesus lived what is called the Evangelical Councils. They are poverty, chastity and obedience. Religious orders take vows to imitate Christ in these ways, but all Christians are called to this life of poverty, chastity and obedience according to their state in life. In following these councils we are living the life of Christ. We can look to the Cross and imitate our Lord. Christ’s hands are nailed and open. He cannot hold onto any worldly possessions, but has emptied His hands of all. Christ’s heart is pierced. He lives the life of chastity in which He gives the gift of Himself to all and in purity. Christ’s feet are nailed. He is obedient to His Father’s will, not wandering all over the place or following a will contrary to the Father, but instead being obedient where He is placed. How do we all practice the evangelical councils, especially that of poverty? When we say yes to something, we say no to something else. We make a choice. We make a choice everyday with our hands, what will they hold; with our feet, what path will we follow and with our heart, what will we desire. When we purchase something or spend our time with something or someone, we cannot get that back. We should remain diligent in keeping our life open to accepting the will of God when He asks of it and not be bogged down by other things. A great song about how everything eventually goes away (GONE--SWITCHFOOT). A great line is “Where’s your treasure...Where’s your hope?” This is a question we should constantly ask ourselves. What do we put our hope in? What do we consider priceless? What is beyond replacement? When we earn and gain a lot of money, we feel we should spend it all on ourselves. While having nice things does not make anyone a bad person, we should realize it will not bring us an eternal joy on this earth like the kingdom of Heaven will. In the first reading, Solomon asked not for power or money but for understanding to know, love, and serve God and help the kingdom. God blesses Solomon with a heart “so wise...that there has never been anyone like you up to now” When someone prays for a million dollars, what is their motive? Do they want these riches to help God’s kingdom here on earth or for selfish reasons? We need to be more like Solomon in asking God in prayer for a better understanding of God and bless us with wisdom and grace so that we may be able to better serve others in the Kingdom on earth. This way we can reap our reward in Heaven. So we should all live with nothing? Absolutely not, we all need to have the necessities to function in this world. We should all be living for something, but that something is not here on earth; our something is Heaven. If we are living for the next iPhone, the next car, the next house and that is all we consume our lives with, then we are missing the point. We may not be just living for the things themselves, but could be living for the sensation those things bring us. Blessed John Paul II warns that we can begin to view our “lives as a series of sensations to be experienced rather than as a work to be accomplished.” We need things to stay connected; to transport us, and to keep us sheltered, but it does not define our lives and does not complete our lives, now or forever. In regards to the things of the world we have to ask if we are properly using them. Do we hoard them? Have they become a god to us, something we have to have? We will be rewarded for using the things of this world in the correct and proper way. “Your reward for the right use of the things of this world will be everlasting glory, a crown of righteousness, and the kingdom of heaven; God will welcome you, the angels will praise you, all men who have existed since the world began will call you blessed.” Part of the Totus Tuus (Totally Yours) says, “…all that I possess is yours…” Have we given what we possess to God, so that He can do with it what He wills? One of the precepts of the Church is, “You shall observe the days of fasting and abstinence established by the Church.” Fasting is a form of penance and we can of course choose to “give up” something at any time, but we must observe the fasting obligations the Church gives. Why is it good to fast or give up something? It is good practice to give up a “good” of this world for a greater good; that of heaven, that of God. By giving up something of this world, like electronics, food, drink, etc., we are not saying that those things are not good, but we are saying that there is a greater good. The first reason we fast is to keep our perspective straight. Temporal and earthly things are good, spiritual and heavenly things are better. The second reason we fast is to help us say “no”. If we are accustom to fasting, giving up things, then it will not be as difficult to give up something when God demands that of us. When we are tempted to sin, it will not be as difficult to deny our self the pleasure of sin that we are being tempted to say yes to. Are people who have a lot or spend a lot of money bad people? Of course not, God has blessed them with a great sum of wealth that they may have earned or may have not earned. God never promised us a fair trade when it comes to wealth, but He does provide us enough to live if we work hard enough. It is how we spend and use our money. Remember, money is NOT the root of all evil; it is the love of money. Many of the world’s richest people are also some of the world’s most giving people. They realize they cannot take their money with them when they die, and the true joy is not to have millions and billions of dollars but by helping others. We need an income to keep us financially stable and protected, but we cannot hoard wealth. We must be open to offering our wealth for the kingdom of God and His people when needed. "store up treasures in heaven" GOSPEL – Matthew 6:19-23 Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and decay destroy, and thieves break in and steal. But store up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be. “The lamp of the body is the eye. If your eye is sound, your whole body will be filled with light; but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be in darkness. And if the light in you is darkness, how great will the darkness be.”
Posted on: Sun, 23 Jun 2013 02:22:27 +0000
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