Treasure in Heaven
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August 9, 2025Pope Leo XIV, during the Mass for the Jubilee of the Youth last weekend, August 3, 2025 in Rome,has these challenging yet assuring words to the young people about the beauty of aligning one’slife to God’s and thirsts for Him whom no earthly reality can quench.“We are not made for a life where everything is taken for granted and static, but for an existence that is constantly renewed through gift of self in love. This is why we continually aspire to something “more” that no created reality can give us;we feel a deep and burning thirst that no drink in this world can satisfy. Knowing this, let us not deceive our hearts by trying to satisfy them with cheap imitations! Let us rather listen to them! Letus turn this thirst into a step stool, like children who stand on tiptoe, in order to peer through the window of encounter with God. We will then find ourselves before him, who is waiting for us,knocking gently on the window of our soul(cf. Rev 3:20). It is truly beautiful, especially at a young age, to open wide your hearts, to allow him to enter, and to set out on this adventure with him towards eternity.”
In our Gospel this 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time,Jesus continue to challenge us about keeping treasures of heaven. “Provide money bags for yourselves that do not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven that no thief can reach normoth destroy” he says. This is the same invitation of Pope Leo XIV not to be deceived with cheap imitations that try to satisfy our hunger and thirst temporarily. He acknowledged, however, that there are burning questions in our hearts which are in need for truth that cannot be ignored, “What is true happiness? What is the true meaning of life? What can free us from being trapped in meaninglessness, boredom and mediocrity?” Fear might be creeping around us oreven covers our hearts in our search for the truth.
Jesus assures us in our Gospel, “Do not be afraid any longer, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom!” If God is pleased to give us the kingdom, what then is our response? It is our willingness to light that fire of hope in our hearts. True happiness lies on our willingness and fearless search for God. Exert effort to search for that genuine happiness and be satisfied with what God can offer us who is knocking gently in our hearts, wanting to have an intimate encounter with us. This is the real treasure that can satisfy our heart’s desires and longing, it is where our hearts rest in faith and trust knowing that Jesus says, “For where your treasure is, there also you’re your heart be.”