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The true treasure. Let us fill our hearts with acts of love.
Word of life
The evangelist Luke recounts this teaching of Jesus and shows him with his disciples on the way to Jerusalem, toward his Passover of death and resurrection. Along the way, he addresses them, calling them "little flock" (Luke 12:32), and confides to them what is in his heart, the deepest dispositions of his soul. Among these are detachment from earthly goods, trust in the Father's providence, and interior vigilance, actively awaiting the Kingdom of God. In the preceding verses, Jesus encourages them to detach themselves from everything, even from life, and not to worry about material needs, because the Father knows what they need. Instead, he invites them to seek the Kingdom of God and encourages them to store up "inexhaustible treasure in heaven" (Luke 12:33). Certainly, Jesus is not advocating passivity in the face of earthly things, or irresponsible behavior at work; what he wants is to remove our anxiety, restlessness, and fear. "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Here, "heart" refers to the unifying center of the person, which gives meaning to everything they experience; it is the place of sincerity, where there is no room for deception or dissimulation. In general, it indicates true intentions, what one truly thinks, believes, and wants. Treasure is what we value most, that is, our priority, what we believe gives security to the present and the future. Pope Francis affirms: "Today everything is bought and paid for, and it seems that our very sense of dignity depends on things acquired through the power of money. We are only compelled to accumulate, consume, and be distracted, trapped in a degrading system that does not allow us to look beyond our immediate needs."[1] But in the depths of every woman and every man there is an urgent search for that true happiness that never disappoints and that no material goods can satisfy. Chiara Lubich wrote: "Yes, what you are looking for exists; There is in your heart an infinite and immortal longing; a hope that never dies; a faith that pierces the darkness of death and is light for those who believe: not in vain do you hope and believe! Not in vain! You hope and believe in order to love»[2]. «For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also». This Word invites us to examine our conscience: what is my treasure, what matters most to me? This can take on various shades, such as economic status, but also fame, success, power. Experience tells us that we need to continually return to true life, the one that never passes away, the radical and demanding life of evangelical love: «For a Christian, it is not enough to be good, merciful, humble, meek, patient… He must have for his brothers the charity that Jesus taught us. […] Because charity is not being willing to give one’s life. It is giving one’s life»[3]. We must love every neighbor we meet during the day (in the family, at work, everywhere) with this measure. And so we live without thinking of ourselves, but thinking of others, living others, and we experience true freedom. Augusto Parody Reyes and the Word of Life team [1] Francis, Encyclical Dilexit nos, 218. [2] C. Lubich, "What you seek exists." Letter of June 1944: First love. Letters from the beginning (1943-1949), Ciudad Nueva, Madrid 2011, p. 54. [3] Cf. Ead., Conexión telefónica 6-12-1984: Juntos en camino, Ciudad Nueva, Buenos Aires 1988, pp. 48-49.
Where is my heart?
The "Heart" is the most intimate and authentic core, the unifying center of the person. It gives meaning to everything we experience, the place of desires and vital choices that guide our existence. It is the place of sincerity, where there is no room for deception or dissimulation. It normally indicates our true intentions, what we truly think, believe, and want. This idea invites us to ask ourselves: what is the reality that matters most to me? Where do I place my hope, my energies, my life, my heart? The answer can take on various nuances, such as love, gift, relationships with others, but also economic status, fame, success, power, or one's own security. True freedom comes first and foremost from the heart. Purely material goods, just as they accumulate, can also vanish due to the ups and downs of life. Detachment from them can help us live our daily work and effort for society with a more transparent commitment, overcoming anxiety, restlessness, and fear of tomorrow. “Today,” Pope Francis affirms, “everything is bought and paid for, and it seems that our very sense of dignity depends on things obtained through the power of money. We are driven only to accumulate, consume, and be distracted, prisoners of a degrading system that does not allow us to look beyond our immediate needs.”[1] Experience tells us that it is necessary to continually return to true life, which is the best “investment” to commit ourselves to. Not thinking of ourselves, but of others, thus experiencing true freedom. The philosopher and humanist Erich Fromm reminds us of this when he states that “Giving is the highest expression of power. In the very act of giving, I experience my strength, my richness, my power. This experience of greater vitality and potency fills me with joy.”[2] Let us ask ourselves before every action: what is the motive that drives me to do this? And if we find that we need to reorient our intention, let us do so decisively. We will see that our heart is freed from ties and conditioning [1] Pope Francis “Dilexit Nos” no. 218 [2] Erich Fromm The Art of Loving (1956)
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Assembly 2026: first stage underway
Preparatory work for the 2026 Assembly has begun.
