BEWARE OF THIS TREASURE

Wednesday of the 23rd Week in Ordinary Time
Col 3:1-11

A working man was invited to an antique where he admired a work of art that cost his half-a-year salary. He worked so hard for six months, even going on over time work, stopped his vices, and made a dramatic change in his lifestyle so as to save the amount of money he needed to buy the genuine artifact. When he had saved enough, he went back to the shop and found that the expensive antique, he bought it and went home. In his home, the man placed his new treasure on a special spot. Each time a guest came for a visit, the costly antique easily caught attention and was greatly admired. But his house was rather unkempt and as the days passed, the obra maestra became more and more like a sore thumb inside his disheveled abode. The beautiful antique made him see how ugly his dwelling place was. The following happened: Day One: General House Cleaning Day Two: House Repainting Day Three: Furniture Repair Works Day Four: Floor Polishing Day Five: Installation of Curtain Rods and Putting Curtains Day Six: Other Interior Renovation Day Seven: House Re-warming His house became a place worthy of the great treasure. The man is you. The man is me. The house is our hearts. The Priceless Treasure is Jesus. St. Paul reminds us, as he reminded the Colossian through his letter read today, to make our hearts worthy of the Lord. The truth of our welcoming Jesus in our hearts is proven by the changing of our life according to His own. Genuine discipleship cannot leave us to the old lifestyle we had before we met, loved, and followed the Lord. If our discipleship is true, we will see whatever is dirty in our hearts and we will clean it, we will recognize what is ugly in our life and we will change it with what is worthy of Jesus, our Lord and Master. Beware: Jesus changes us; we do not change Him. Think twice before you bring Him home. Your home will never be the same again. But you cannot be any richer! You will have in your life the Source of every good gift.