Heirs to the treasures of heaven

Scripture speaks of ‘woe to those who are at ease in Sion, and to those who feel secure on the mountain of Samari. Woe to those who lie on beds of ivory and stretch themselves out on their couches, and eat lambs from the flock and calves from the midst of the stall, who sing idle songs to the sound of harp and like David invent for themselves instruments of music, who drink wine in bowls and anoint themselves with the finest oils, but are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph!’ (cf. Am 6:1a, 4-7). In summary, woe to those who cannot be bothered!

Beloved people of God, we ought to cooperate with the grace of God so abundantly bestowed upon us so as to attain God’s promises to us as heirs to the treasures of heaven. Heaven is not for the lazy. The Bible says, ‘…the kingdom of God suffers violence and the violent take it by force…’ (cf. Mt 11:12). Violence here is also to the spirit of laziness. The poor and the needy are one excellent way of making sure that we attain God’s promises to us as heirs to the kingdom. We cannot afford to do nothing. That remains the sin of the rich man. He was lazy to do something positive for the poor. He was indifferent to the plight of the needy.

May we rise up to this challenge, ‘Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things , and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which he will display at the proper time…’ (cf. 1 Tm 6:11-16).

Fr. Ted