For Where Your Treasure Is, There Also Will Your Heart Be

08-07-2022Weekly ReflectionFr. Manasseh Iorchir, VC

The theme of “waiting” runs across the three readings this weekend. We are accustomed to listening to readings themed with this concept at the beginning of Advent each year when the Church invites us to watch and pray as we wait for the coming of Christ. However, the sudden appearance of the Savior’s directive to wait underscores the essential nature of spiritual vigilance in the life of every Christian.

The first reading, taken from the book of Wisdom, recounts how Israel waited in preparation for the Passover a[ er the date was revealed to them. The letter to the Hebrews, from where the second reading is taken, goes even farther in salvation history to recall how Abraham and Sarah waited in patient hope and uncompromising faith for the fulfillment of the promises made to them by God. Both readings suggest patience and hopeful waiting on God for our salvation.

Each of us today is making his or her own journey. We all have landmark events ahead of us that require preparation. Some of us are preparing to go to school, some to graduate, some to make a life-transforming commitment, while others are preparing for a hospital appointment or even a procedure. The level of preparation suggests the state of measure of awareness of the importance, and sometimes even the success of the event being prepared for. “Where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.” Jesus reminds us that in life’s journey, one event deserves and requires adequate preparation. This event is the day we shall meet the Lord, not just in the invisible ways in which He comes into our lives, but in a visible, unmistakable way at the end of this life. It is the event many don’t wish to consider, but is precisely the reason Jesus warns us to prepare for it because our meeting with the Lord is not a ma‚ er of if, but of when. And, if His disciples do not prepare adequately they may miss out.

Our preparation for this event is not to be a passive and disinterested watching of the unfolding of events, indeed it is an active waiting in faith, hope and love. Our watching is to be tangible and consistent. It should be seen in our belief in God’s covenant, our charity to our neighbor, and trust in God’s promise of forgiveness and grace. We ought to be so much prepared that should Christ choose to come today, indeed this very moment, He would find us ready.

May we be granted the patience and diligence to watch hopefully without yielding to earthly distractions, may we fix our gaze irrevocably on the example of Christ, and may He find us ready when He comes again.

Fr. Manasseh