Friday of 11th Week in Ordinary Time, Year 1, 2O25 

Reflection by Fr. Collins Akhigbe OP 

Scriptural passages 

1st reading 2 Cor. 11:18, 21-30. Psalm 33. Gospel Mt. 6:19-23.

Theme: Store Your Treasures In Heaven 

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and decay destroy, and thieves break in and steal. But store your treasures in heaven…” (Mt. 6:19-20). The call to store up treasures in heaven means living a life of faith, love, and good works that lead to eternal life with God. The Church teaches that the things of this world are temporary, but heavenly treasures, such as virtues, acts of charity, and our relationship with God, are eternal and of far greater value. We are on a journey back to God. We are created by God to be in communion with him. He made us for himself. We belong to him. The Lord God wants us to reign with him forever. This is the good news. The time on earth is for preparation for heaven. We are here for a short time aloted us by God. Heaven is our permanent home and residence. This is why the call to store up your treasures in heaven becomes imperative. In this reflection we shall highlight why we should store up treasures in heaven and how to store treasures in heaven.

Why We Should Store Treasures In Heaven 

First, this is the will of Jesus Christ for each and everyone of us. 

The Lord directly teaches this in the sermon on the mount, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal, but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven… For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matt.  6:19–21). The Lord calls us to prioritize spiritual riches, like faith, hope, love, and good deeds, over material wealth.

Second, we should store up treasures in heaven because heavenly treasure is incorruptible. The apostle Peter has this to say,  “…an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:4). This shows that what we gain by living according to God’s will cannot be lost or destroyed like earthly possessions.

Third, we should store treasures in heaven because faith and works lead to eternal reward. In other words, living a life of virtue has eternal reward. We cannot lose our blessings when we faithfully do the will of God. The more we live a life of faith and love the more we store up treasures for ourselves. The apostle James tells us that faith without good works is dead (James 2:24). 

Fourth, when you store up treasures in heaven through works of charity and almsgiving you atone for your sins. The scripture tells us that charity covers multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8). The more we store up treasures in heaven the more we secure our heavenly home.

Fifth, we should store up treasures in heaven because that is the way of Christ. Jesus gave up earthly riches to show the path to eternal glory. “Though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that by His poverty you might become rich” ( 2 Cor. 8:9). The Church calls believers to imitate this detachment from materialism to grow in holiness and store up lasting spiritual riches.

How To Store Treasures In Heaven 

First, we store up treasures in heaven by serving God faithfully. We have a primary responsibility to worship and serve God. This is our own way of expressing our love for God. The first commandment is about the love of God through worshipping him alone (Deut. 5:6-12). In other words, we should love God above all things (Mk. 12 :30). This is the summary of the first precept of the Lord. 

Second, we store up treasures in heaven by loving one another. The Master gave us a new commandment, love one another as I have loved you (Jn. 13:34). The more we love one another the more we store treasures in heaven.

Third, we store up treasures in heaven when we live a life of obedience and holiness. The Lord told us, if you love me you keep my commandments (Jn. 14:15). This is another means through which we can store up treasures in heaven. 

Fourth, we store up treasures in heaven by doing the corporal works of mercy, namely, feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, shelter the homeless, visit the sick, visit the imprisoned and bury the dead (Mt. 25:42-43). 

Fifth, we also store treasures in heaven through the spiritual works of mercy namely, to instruct the ignorant, to counsel the doubtful, to admonish sinners, to bear wrongs patiently, to forgive offences willingly, to comfort the afflicted, and to pray for the living and the dead (Sirach 7:33-35; Mt. 6:14-15; Mt. 18:15-35). These are some of the means through which we can store up treasures in heaven.

Prayers 

Lord, help us to love you above all things. Lord, help us to be patient with one another. Lord, deliver us from temptation and sin. Lord, give us the grace of wisdom and understanding. Lord, help us to become who we are in truth and in spirit. Lord, please, sustain us till the very end. Amen. Wishing you a wonderful day.

With lots of prayers and love.