WHO IS MY TREASURE? HE IS MY TREASURE!

Please allow me to repeat one of the beautiful themes in our Gospel today: Where your treasure is, there also will your heart be. Beautiful isn’t it? What is a treasure? A treasure is a person, thing, event or place that is so valuable and important to us. It could be our loved ones, family, job, face, money, alahas, and many others. The nest question is: When can we consider then a person or thing valuable (or important) to us? When? OK, allow me to present a comparison using a necklace as an example in order for us to understand the question. Compare how you value a necklace (kwintas) that was just found on a street as you happen to pass by AND a necklace that was given to you by your loved one. Which one is valuable? Obviously, the one that was given to you by your loved one is the one we consider as a treasure; as valuable. Why? Because the kwintas did not just fall from the sky; but because there is a relationship behind the necklace. It was given to you; and not only that it was given, but there is a relationship between the two of you. That’s why, you can’t just give it away, because there is a sentimental value on it. And every time we look at it, we smile because we are reminded of the giver and the beautiful memories you had with the person who gave you the kwintas. So, in having a treasure, that is the first element: RELATIONSHIP. Every time we look at the cross, why do we smile? Because we are reminded of the gift of life that God has given us. He is our pinaka-treasure. That is what the 1st reading tells us today. Are you familiar with the Exodus event in the lives of the Israelites? Diba that was the time when God chose Moses to lead His people away from slavery in Egypt; how God helpled them by dividing the Red Sea into two and they were able to pass safely through it. Grabe to impact sa ila. That was their treasure! That is why even after thousands of years had past, they still meet every year (Passover festival) to celebrate those glorious events sa ilang mga ninuno. When they gather and remember what God has done for them, their hearts are filled with praise, joy and thanksgiving.
The second element in dealing with our treasure is FAITH. 5 to 15 years after the death of Jesus on year 33 AD, the early Christians were very hopeful that Jesus will return very very soon during their time; they were really waiting for Him to come the 2nd time. They were so full of FAITH. But 30 years had past already…they started to get discouraged and slowly lost their faith in Jesus. That was one of the reasons why St. Luke wrote this Gospel; he wished to revive the faith of his community, because it was as if they had their faith not so much because of love of what Jesus had done but because they had in mind that Jesus will really appear maybe today or tomorrow, murag nagpasikat. So, St. Luke would have said, “Even if the Lord does not return yet, and we don’t even know when, this is what the Lord says: Have faith in me! Remember what the Lord has done for all of us! He died for us yet he rose from the dead because God loves us so much! That is our treasure! If only we always remember how God showed His love, then even though he has not yet returned, our strong faith in Him will never be affected.” Take for example, when I was still a child, it was already late in the afternoon, and still no one fetched me from school. And so my teacher was already worried, “where is your father? When will he fetch you?” Although I was already crying that time, I still managed to answer her, “Mam, I don’t know when he will fetch me. But I am sure that he WILL fetch me, because I know that my father is a good man, he loves me and he has not abandoned me.” There was a relationship, that is why no matter what happens, I will not lose faith. My faith in my father was my treasure, and where my treasure is, there also will my heart be. If God is our treasure, do we give our whole heart to Him? Or basin when problems come our way, we easily get discouraged. We are invited by Jesus today, “Don’t lose your faith no matter what happens!” Hinumdumi ug guniti ang relasyon.
But, it doesn’t end there yet. There is the third and last element. What is it? After having experienced that RELATIONSHIP, after expressing our FAITH in Him because of that relationship, what follows next are ACTIONS DONE OUT OF LOVE, not out of pasikat. Let me share with you a true story from our very own parish priest, Fr. Perseus. While we were having lunch 2 weeks ago, I heard this moving experience from Him; and I would like to integrate the 3 elements here. The laborers who did this beautiful church we have now was with Fr. Perseus for almost 5 years now, they were already with Him during his past 2 parish assignments. So, there is already a RELATIONSHIP, suod na sila, and they know each other well. What is very moving is that Fr. Perseus cares for them very much. He doesn’t only give them money, but also gifts and incentives. There was no sense of a master-servant relationship image here, but mutual friendship. Imagine, one Christmas, without them expecting it, much to their surprise, they received bugas and pang noche Buena that they were so happy and were able to celebrate Christmas with their families. Dili lang si padre ang naghatag sa bugas, kamo ang naghatag nila sa pagkaon. Very moving! Tan-awa unsa ka-lig-on atong simbahan, because of what you have shown to them. This is a manifestation of their STRONG FAITH. And while Fr. Perseus was away for 1 month, you know what, the laborers still worked hard, with their whole heart. They didn’t know when Fr. Perseus will come back from Europe. But even if he was not around, they still performed their job excellently, even going beyond working time, not because magpasikat, but because out of LOVE. Because of the relationship they experienced, they do not just work for salary but they make it strong and safe for you, sakto sa semento ug balas, because they love Carmen parish. Dili na kinahanglan bantayan o sugoon pa para molihok (there’s no need to guard them or command them).
That is the very reason why we go to Mass every Sunday and pray. Because God wants to show to us the Cross; how He would like us to remember always all the things He has done for us. RELATIONSHIP. So at this very moment, remember the experiences before wherein you received God’s blessings, grace and love. Like the kwintas, hold is as your treasure! When problems come, remember those beautiful memories with the Lord. So the second element, have FAITH in Him. Don’t let problems take that relationship away! (Let us continue hoping in faith that corruption in our country will soon end; that in due time, we will attain peace in Mindanao, walay surrenderay). So, it doesn’t end here, we have to go out of this Church. And as we leave this Church after the Mass, if dala-dala na nato ang FAITH from our RELATIONSHIP with the Lord, then it would be easy for us to do simple things out of LOVE. Dili na ta angay suguon o bantayan pa. We can get rid of cheating and corruption sa atong pag-eskwela ug pag-trabaho. We can show peace and love bisan diha pa lang sulod sa pamilya.
May we always say, “Even though I do not see and touch Jesus physically, even though he has not returned yet for His 2nd coming, there’s nothing to worry about, because I do have so many beautiful experiences with Him that I can say: He will never leave me. And so I will always do what is right, what is good, EVERYDAY…He is my pinaka-TREASURE! And where my treasure is, there also will my heart be…everyday…Amen!