[Jesus said:] “Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. “Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks. Blessed are those slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes; truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt and have them sit down to eat, and he will come and serve them. If he comes during the middle of the night, or near dawn, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves. “But know this: if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.” ~ Luke 12:32-40
I have two important heirlooms left to me by my grandparents.
The first is a Tiffany vase that was a gift to my great-aunt, who worked as the secretary for Louis Comfort Tiffany.
The second is dessert plate, the last piece left from the everyday dish set my grandmother used at her table.
The vase is in a secure location - kept out of sight because of its monetary value.
The dish is now also in a safe place. When my grandmother died, the dishware went to multiple places, and I only received a few pieces. The others have long since broken (bringing me to tears each time), and once the last one did, I grudgingly put this last plate away - not wanting to take a chance that it also would break.
They were simple pieces. Nothing expensive or extraordinary. But if my home were to catch on fire tomorrow, that simple plate would be the treasure I'd take with me rather than the vase.
Where my treasure is, there my heart is also.
Jesus knows what we do with our truly treasured possessions. He knew how our treasure can be assessed by the love we give it.
And that's the kind of treasure offered to us through faith. Like my grandmother's plate, it isn't fancy or expensive.
But it is special. It is something to hold onto dearly.
Loving God, open my heart to the treasure you offer! Amen