Fragility of Earthly Treasures - Weekday Homily Video

I would like to invite us to reflect on today’s gospel that focuses on the fragility of earthly security. The Lord says in the gospel “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth; store up treasures in heaven.” It is a reading where the Lord gently yet piercingly warns us about the vulnerability of our earthly collections.

Constant Consumption

Every year at the beginning of a new season or a new year, individuals or organizations have a ritual of looking through their closets, garages, stores, or bank accounts to take stock of what they have. You will be surprised at how much an individual, or a family, or an organization accumulates in a year’s time. We are people that border on impulsive accumulation of stuff that we will never need or use in our time. Think about the clothing we have, the electronic gadgets we have bought, the savings in our bank accounts, the stationery, the children’s toys, the pairs of shoes, the hats, the perfumes, the varieties of teas and coffees – a lot of it is stuff we will never consume or use at all!

The Search for Security

Where does all this obsession with accumulation of stuff come from? Deep down in our lives we have this feeling or impression that when we get all this different stuff, our lives will be complete, we will be happier, and our lives will be more secure. The advertising industry is built on the psychology of the human need for security, and they exploit it to the core. They keep proposing new products and suggest to you that your life is incomplete without their product!

Jesus in no way suggests that owning material comforts is bad, rather he challenges our illusion that our security lies in the material stuff or titles we have accumulated. When we dedicate our entire lives to accumulating material possessions or expanding our earthly portfolios, the Lord tells us we are building on shifting grounds. None of it can survive the grave! If we think our peace and happiness will be based on our investments in the stock market, our peace and happiness will rise and fall with stock market indexes!

Investing in the Kingdom of God

The Lord gently guides us that if we desire peace, happiness, and security in our lives, it is best to invest in the kingdom of God that is unshakeable. We invest in the kingdom of God through mercy towards others, radical charity, or generosity to those in need, working on good and strong relationships with God and others, and availing ourselves to types of service that advance the work of God or help those in need.

Today we are invited to evaluate our lives on what our heart deeply treasures. We can ask ourselves: On what do I spend much time on? On what do I spend much of my finances on? Which places do I visit most? What does my mind think about the most? There in we can get a sense of what the treasures of our heart look like.

The Dignity of All God's Children

Today also happens to be Juneteenth, a federal holiday in the United States. It is the day that marks the anniversary of 1865 when slaves in Galveston Texas heard for the first time that two years back in 1863, Abraham Lincoln had signed the Emancipation Proclamation. For two full years slaves in Galveston hadn’t yet learned that Abraham Lincoln had abolished slavery. Slave owners had continued accumulating generational wealth off the backs and indignity of slaves for two full years.

In this Mass we pray for the dignity of all God’s children everywhere in the world. We also pray that the Lord teaches our hearts what true wealth looks like.

• Today’s Readings
  
  
• Father Fred's inspirational homily was recorded live during Mass at the Father Peyton Center this morning. You can view the Mass (and the Rosary at the 30-minute mark) on the Family Rosary YouTube page.
  
  
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