What is Your Treasure? It may be less 'money' than you think.
The overflow of your heart will give you a clue.
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Yesterday, purely by chance, I had a unique experience. I ran into three priests at different times and overheard their conversations. They weren’t together, yet their discussions were oddly interconnected. Two of them were talking about saints, while the third was sharing something he had read in the Office of Readings.
Interestingly, none of them mentioned the trial and conviction of Archbishop Vigano for canonical crimes—a hot topic everywhere in the Catholic sphere and media. This got me thinking about a principle I hold dear: What has your attention has your mind, and what has your mind has your heart.
Jesus Christ, in the Gospels, said, 'Where your heart is, there is your treasure.' These words resonate deeply with me. Essentially, what has your attention commands your mind, and what has your mind holds your heart. Your heart’s disposition will always reveal your treasure. Think about that—what’s in your treasury?
Often, your heart's treasure is hinted at by spoken words. It’s what you discuss, because it’s what you focus on. As Jesus also said, 'Out of the overflow of a man's heart, his mouth speaks.' So, take a moment to reflect on what occupies your thoughts and conversations. Analyze what has your attention, and why. Because what has your attention has your mind; what has your mind has your heart, and where your heart is, there is your treasure.
Considering the encounters with the three priests, their focus evidently was on holiness and sacred matters. It’s true that priests don’t always talk like the Apostles, but it’s not as uncommon as you’d think. They may occasionally talk about Church news, but it isn’t as common as many suspect.
I have often had to question myself: What’s in my treasury? Am I concentrating on holy things in my daily life? Whether it’s reflecting on the saints, serving my family, or helping strangers, these are holy endeavors.
I believe it’s crucial to ask yourself these questions too. Is prayer capturing your attention? Are thoughts of God and eternal matters at the forefront of your mind? Are we focusing instead on things that are trivial, frivolous, or even ridiculous? For what has your attention shapes your mind and steers your heart. Where your heart is, there is your treasure.
Here’s a little exercise I want to share from personal experience: Ask God to reveal your treasury to you. Pray earnestly, “Lord, what is in my treasury?” Be prepared, as the answer might be unsettling. We often perceive our treasury to be filled with rich virtues—holiness, knowledge, virtue. However, God’s revelation might show it to be less impressive.
For most of us, what we think is in our treasury might just be Monopoly money—not real value. The currency we really have in our treasury may be just a few pennies! But that’s okay. Hold tight to whatever you find, even if it’s one penny. Claim it. Own it! Then, ask God to multiply that modest treasure. Transform that single penny into vast riches of true holiness, virtue, righteousness, and truth.
What you discover will likely be far less than you initially thought. If you approach this with humility and righteousness, God’s truth will shine through. Where your heart is, there is your treasure. So, what’s truly in your heart? That’s your real treasure, even if fragments seem less significant.
Ask the Lord to show you your treasury and to multiply it. For, what has your attention has your mind, what has your mind has your heart, and where your heart is, there is your treasure. That’s my reflection for you today. Thank you for reading. God bless you, and please say a Hail Mary for me and my family.