"Do not store up treasures for yourself on earth ..."

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In the gospel today, Jesus makes it very clear how he wants us to live. ''Do not store up treasures for yourselves on earth, but store up treasures for yourselves in heaven, for where your treasure is , there will be your heart also.'' (Matthew 6:19-23). We know that that is what Jesus is calling us to do but the trouble is that we find ourselves spending so much time on things of earth. Often they are works that are necessary to provide for our life and that of our family but sometimes they are just a waste of time. So how can we be more attentive to the treasures of heaven? Yesterday in the gospel Jesus taught his disciples the Our Father. I have said it thousands of times but yesterday I realized that it really a prayer that teaches us that we can do nothing through our own efforts and that everything comes from God. It begins reminding us that God is the Father of us all and like the good father of a family he gives his children all that they need. May your Kingdom and your will come to us.

 

Then we ask that he give us our food for everyday and the spiritual bread of the Eucharist. We ask that he forgives our sins and not let us fall into temptation and that he delivers us from evil. Our Loving Father is ready to do all for us. All we have to do is to ask and to be open to receive all that he offers to us. I would like to share a prayer of Joyce Rupp from her book simply called ''Prayer.'' ''Divine Companion, you are ever near as I travel on the vast river of our relationship. Thank you for your grace in my life. May I grow daily in my love for you. I renew my commitment to have you be the centre of my life. I pledge my faithfulness to communicate with you every day. Amen.''