Treasure Trove
Friday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time
Read this Gospel passage aloud to the family
Matthew 6:19-23 - Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and decay destroy, and thieves break in and steal. But store up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal.
“The lamp of the body is the eye. If your eye is sound, your whole body will be filled with light; but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be in darkness. And if the light in you is darkness, how great will the darkness be.”
(Parent) Reread this part a few times aloud
“For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.”
(Parent) Read this meditation aloud to the family
An intentional life with Christ begins with saying “yes” to His presence in our lives. But as we grow in the Christian life, we must also learn to say “no.” Of course we won’t say “no” to Christ, but instead we must say “no” to everything else that may crowd Him out. There are a great number of Christians who miss out on deep relationships with Christ because they are too busy for Him, and they can’t prioritize. Are we like this?
Jesus is telling us that we have to choose. We have to prioritize. We cannot “serve two masters” (Matthew 6:24). In a sense, it can be said that God doesn’t like to share. This isn’t for His sake, but for ours. God doesn’t want to share our hearts, because our hearts are made exclusively for Him. So to the degree that we share our love on things outside God, where He isn’t asking us to spend it, on things that ultimately cannot satisfy us, we will be unhappy. We have to examine our lives and our busyness. Are we missing out on God because of too much unnecessary: sports, work, school work, house work, volunteerism, social activities, or church activities? In prayer, consider what unnecessary activities and involvements threaten our life with Christ. Consider how we can prioritize Him, and give Him our whole heart.
As a family, pray a portion of the Rosary together (very short if children are young) reflecting on the Scripture passage above. (Optional: allow a brief time for discussion or questions from children concerning their thoughts and prayer.)
Reminder for Parents: Pier is just meant to be a jumping off point. The real goal is that you pray & eventually use the fruits of your personal prayer as the content of your family’s prayer. Duc in altum.
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