Luke 12:32-40
32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33 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. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 35 “Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit;
36 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. 37 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.38 If he comes during the middle of the night, or near dawn, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves. 39 “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.
40 You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.”
“Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also"
St. Luke shares another way that Jesus teaches us about Faith, its effects and efficiency.
A deep meditation on this teaching may help us see that Jesus is speaking to a small group who live among people that don't believe in Him.
Jesus foretells about problems and hard times that may create fear and despair. He also offers to those who believe in Him (the little flock) the grace to overcome fear as much as their eyes are fixed upon the Kingdom.
Don't be afraid of giving because, through charitable giving, we gain treasure in heaven. It’s a fruit of our sharing with others when our hearts are lifted up to heaven and we make God's Love a priority in our life.
Jesus is telling us the substantial truth about love, treasure and hearts. As each of us has one heart, we have only one true exclusive love that cannot be shared. This love is bound to our treasure. If God is our treasure, then He will have priority in all we do and think. If we are of this world where atheism, materialism and hedonism have priority, we can't be the little flock that Jesus speaks to.
This Sunday coincides with the celebration of the Transfiguration. We are invited to think how we trust God in troubles and tribulations, and how confident we are in His Presence and His powerful mercy.
The apostles were afraid when Jesus revealed to them what kind of troubles and sufferings were expected to happen to Him in Jerusalem. They refused the idea of a suffering Messiah and were afraid of would happen to Him. (Mark 9:31-32). Similar to the first disciples, how do we react in times of trouble?
May we hear the trustful voice of God the Father telling the three apostles who witnessed Jesus’ Transfiguration, "This my son, whom I love; with whom I am pleased, Listen to Him!" (Matthew 17:5).
May we take a few minutes to think about God's priority in our daily life and about our faithfulness to one Love that should never be shared or betrayed. Is it still possible in our time? Don't be afraid, trust in the Lord!