COLLECT: “O GOD, STRENGTH OF THOSE WHO HOPE IN YOU, GRACIOUSLY HEAR OUR PLEAS, AND, SINCE WITHOUT YOU, MORTAL FRAILTY CAN DO NOTHING, GRANT US ALWAYS THE HELP OF YOUR GRACE, THAT IN FOLLOWING YOUR COMMANDS WE MAY PLEASE YOU BY OUR RESOLVE AND OUR DEEDS. THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, YOUR SON, WHO LIVES AND REIGNS WITH YOU IN THE UNITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, GOD, FOR EVER AND EVER. AMEN”.
2Kgs 11:1-4,9-18,20; Ps 131:11-14,17-18 and Mt 6:19-23.
In the portion from the Book of Second Kings, Judah’s queen mother usurps the throne in a bloodbath and promotes idolatry throughout her reign. She leads a life of violence as if she does not know and understand life’s purpose. In the portion of the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus teaches and warns his disciples, and all of us for that matter, against storing up treasures on earth that will one day slip off our hands. We should rather store up treasures in heaven. The light of Christ we received at baptism should direct our hearts to what is valuable and treasurable in heaven.
There is a story about a very rich man and his only daughter who were caught in a fire on the fourth floor of their storey building. When a rescue team came to save them, they told the man up there to throw down on the ground all his valuables and those he treasured most. He first of all threw his daughter to the ground but gathered all his money and gold into a big mattress. The rescue team thought the man would let go of the mattress as he did to his daughter but he did not. Rather, he held on to it and struggled down the ladder that the rescue team provided, to the ground. Of course, he sustained a few terrible burns from the fire. Yes, “Where your treasure is, there also will your heart be”.
What and where is my/your treasure in the world? Like this man in the story, sometimes we throw away more valuable things or things that are of treasure in life and rather hold tight to things that are not valuable in life. Some of us value wealth and materialism more than human life to the extent that we can go wherever or do whatever to acquire them. Sometimes we do not even mind whether what we are doing or where we are going will affect human life or whether it will go against the will of God or not. Some people never mind going into occultism and all sorts of places they should not go to make their wealth and riches. Some people like Athaliah in the first reading, value violence and bloodshed or bloodbath and therefore, such people do not value human life and the human person at all. Some people sometimes even use religion or God to justify their violent actions and bloodbath activities.
We should remember that the love of money, wealth and materialism is the root of all evil and satanic activities, symbolised by darkness. It is so because this can kill or extinguish the light and life of Christ we receive at baptism and confirmation. When we allow this light of Christ in us to become darkness, our darkness will be greater. Let each of us think about his/her last day on earth. What will become of my earthly treasures and valuables? May Saint Romuald intercede for us. Stay blessed and happy feast to all who bear the name Romuald.
WE MEDITATE TODAY, FRIDAY, ON THE SORROWFUL MYSTERIES: ‘THE AGONY IN THE GARDEN, THE SCOURGING AT THE PILLAR, THE CROWNING WITH THORNS, THE CARRYING OF THE CROSS AND THE CRUCIFIXION’ (WE PRAY FOR SORROW FOR SIN, PURITY, COURAGE, PATIENCE, AND PERSEVERANCE) “Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you, blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb Jesus: Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us, sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen”.
PRAYER: “AS THIS RECEPTION OF YOUR HOLY COMMUNION, O LORD, FORESHADOWS THE UNION OF THE FAITHFUL IN YOU, SO MAY IT BRING ABOUT UNITY IN YOUR CHURCH. THROUGH CHRIST OUR LORD. AMEN.”
Rev. Fr. Aloysius Kpiebaya, Catholic Diocese of Wa, Upper West Region, Ghana. (00233-0207867239/0545462863. Email: aloybaya20@yahoo.com.
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