Moment of Meditation: Where's Your Treasure? (Matthew 6:19-21)

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth ...
but lay up for yourselves treasures in Heaven ...
for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
(Matthew 6:19-21)

Where's Your Treasure?

Where's your treasure? What do you give value to? Your family? Your church? Your job? Your hobbies? All of these are great and valuable things. But these treasures cannot be your highest prize.

St. Lawrence, a third-century deacon of the Church of Rome, is a great example of one who had their treasure in the right place. The prefect of Rome was persecuting the Church and had condemned Pope Sixtus to death. The prefect demanded that Lawrence turn over the great treasures that the Church had hidden away from the Empire. Lawrence came back three days later with all the poor and sick people of the congregation. "This is the Church's treasure!" He was immediately condemned to be roasted alive on an iron grill.

The Church's treasure is not gold or silver. It cannot be counted in dollars and cents. It's much greater than that. It's the souls which are cared for within it. The souls of those for whom Jesus has died. These are the treasure of the Church. The Christian's treasure? Being able to live with God forever in eternity. Amen.