Monday, April 2 YOUR GREATER TREASURE Matthew 6:19-21

Monday, April 2

YOUR GREATER TREASURE

MATTHEW 6:19-21

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth,

where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal;

Matthew 6:19 (NRSV)

            It is said that one day a man was walking on the beach at night and in his mind kept repeating: “If I had a car, I would be happy, or if I had a big house, I would be happy, or if I had more money, I would be happy.” At that moment he found a little bag of stones and began throwing them one at a time into the sea all the while saying: “If I had . . .” He did this until he had only one pebble in the bag, which he kept. When he got back to his house, he realized that it was not a stone but a diamond. Can you imagine how many diamonds he threw into the sea without knowing it?

            So it is with us. We spend our time throwing away our precious treasures while waiting for what we think is perfect or dreaming and wishing for what we do not have without valuing what we have close at hand. Let’s look around ourselves and pause to see how fortunate we are. Happiness is very close to us, even though we may not want to realize it.

            Let’s pay attention to the pebbles which may be very valuable diamonds. Each day of our lives is a precious diamond, valuable and irreplaceable, given to us by God. It is up to us to make use of it or to scorn it.        

Prayer: Lord, as we begin this trimester at Easter time, we raise our prayer to you to lead and strengthen us. Bless our life, care for us and help us to understand how blessed we are by you. Amen.

Translation by John Potter

TU MAYOR TESORO

MATEO 6:19-21

No os hagáis tesoros en la tierra, donde la polilla y el orín

corrompen, y donde ladrones minan y hurtan...

Mateo 6:19

Cuentan que una vez un hombre caminaba por la playa de noche y en su mente se repetía: “Si tuviera un auto sería feliz, o si tuviera una casa grande sería feliz, o si tuviera más dinero sería feliz”. En ese momento se encontró con una bolsita de piedras y empezó a tirarlas una por una al mar mientras decía: “Si tuviera…”. Así lo hizo hasta que quedaba una sola piedrecita en la bolsa la cual guardó. Al llegar a su casa se dio cuenta de que no era una piedra, sino un diamante. ¿Te imaginas cuántos diamantes arrojó al mar sin darse cuenta?

Así mismo somos nosotros. Nos pasamos arrojando nuestros preciosos tesoros por estar esperando lo que creemos perfecto o soñando y deseando lo que no tenemos, sin darle valor a lo que tenemos cerca.

Miremos a nuestro alrededor y detengámonos a observar cuán afortunados somos. La felicidad está bien cerca de nosotros, aunque nosotros no queremos darnos cuenta de eso.

Prestémosle atención a las piedritas, que pueden ser diamantes muy valiosos. Cada uno de nuestros días es un diamante precioso, valioso e irremplazable que nos ha regalado Dios. Depende de nosotros aprovecharlo o despreciarlo.

Oración: Señor, comenzando el trimestre y en este tiempo de Pascua, se eleva nuestra oración a ti para que nos guíes y fortalezcas. Bendice nuestra vida, cuídanos y ayúdanos a entender cuán bendecidos somos por ti. Amén.