Spiritual Treasure – Reflection on Luke 12:13-21
Jesus’s desire for us is that we seek holiness rather than accumulating possessions.” Despite unrelenting worldly influences, we can become closer to divinity by collecting spiritual treasure. A passion for receiving these spiritual treasures is not easy, as there is a cost. To make room for these treasures, we must purge our past sins long before our physical death. Removing sins in the past and preventing new sinning is part of the process to holiness now instead of at some distant point in time. A sign that we are progressing toward increased spiritual treasures is how other people are doing matters greatly to us. We can observe this in our thoughts, prayer, compassion, mercy, encouragement, generosity, joy, and love. In deep prayer, humility and in the silence with God your spiritual treasure chest may feel full and now only needs to be maintained. This means you do not stop but that what you collect from that point forward can be used to help others increase their spiritual treasures.
The Man Who Hoards by James Tissot (full resolution painting)
More details are available on the Brooklyn Museum website.
Additional Ordinary Time Reflections
Luke 12:13-21 – Scripture*
The Parable of the Rich Fool
13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.” 14 But he said to him, “Friend, who set me to be a judge or arbitrator over you?” 15 And he said to them, “Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.” 16 Then he told them a parable: “The land of a rich man produced abundantly. 17 And he thought to himself, ‘What should I do, for I have no place to store my crops?’ 18 Then he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.’ 20 But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ 21 So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich toward God.”
Additional Thoughts
Thank you for meditating on this Gospel and reading this Lectio Divina on Luke 12:13-21 Reflection – Spiritual Treasure.
Would you like to contribute related thoughts to these Lectio reflections of the Gospel readings or other contemplative material to this Web-based ministry? Do you see God’s grandeur everywhere and unconditionally enjoy sharing the love of Christ that you have inside? Are you willing to be anonymous in what you would share? If so, email me.
Prayer for young families:
Lord, let the young families of our communities get to know your joy, peace, comfort, and love despite the world’s distractions.
Attributions
This site has written permission to use the New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE) Bible for the Luke 12 passage.
The Immersive Prayer website follows the guidelines for image web use at the Brooklyn Museum and the Jewish Museum websites.
Facebook discussion group on St. John of the Cross.
Facebook page on Lectio Divina daily Gospel Readings.