Sharing the Treasure

Gospel:  Matthew 6: 19-23

What is this heavenly treasure of which Jesus speaks?  The context of this passage makes it clear that the treasure is the mercy of God, the very topic that preceded this passage.  This treasure we can not earn or achieve; it is something freely given to us by God.  Its value cannot be measured by any human standard or monetary specie.  For without this mercy we cannot enter the kingdom of heaven. We can not know peace within ourselves and among one another.  

So often we are told that this heavenly treasure is "merit" or indulgences, both of which are foreign concepts to the New Testament.  Yet we create such things because we have control over them.  They are things we can earn.  They are also things we have for ourselves and not to be shared.  But the mercy of God is not to be kept to ourselves.  It is a treasure meant to be shared with others, given away freely to everyone we encounter.  

When we discover this pearl of great price, we sell all that we have, i.e. material possessions lose their importance for us.  We have all received this treasure of mercy; the task of the spiritual life is for us to be aware of this gift, to have a spirit of gratitude for it, and to set about sharing this gift with everyone we meet through the works of mercy.  The example of the Lord Jesus provides us the Way in which to carry out this life of mercy in the world.