The evangelist Luke recounts this teaching of Jesus and shows him with his disciples on the way to Jerusalem, toward his Passover, his 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 inner vigilance, actively awaiting the Kingdom of God.

In the preceding verses, Jesus encourages them to let go of everything, even 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 urging passivity in earthly matters 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 one's true intentions, what one truly thinks, believes, and wants. treasure It is what is most valuable to us, 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 driven only to accumulate, consume, and be distracted, trapped in a degrading system that does not allow us to look beyond our immediate needs."^[1]But deep within every woman and every man, there is a pressing search for that true happiness that never disappoints and that no material goods can satisfy.

Chiara Lubich wrote: "Yes, what you seek 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 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 treasure can take on various nuances, such as economic status, but also fame, success, and power. Experience tells us that we need to continually return to true life, the life that never passes away, the radical and demanding life of evangelical love:

"For a Christian, it's not enough to be good, merciful, humble, gentle, patient... They must have the charity Jesus taught them for their brothers and sisters. […] Because charity isn't being willing to give one's life. It's giving one's life."^[3].

We must love every neighbor we encounter during the day (in the family, at work, everywhere). And so we live without thinking of ourselves, but thinking of others, living for others, and we experience true freedom.

Augusto Parody Reyes and the Word of Life team

[1] Francis, encyclical Dilexit us, 218.
[2] C. Lubich, "What You're Looking For Exists." Letter, June 1944: First Love: Letters from the Beginnings (1943-1949), Ciudad Nueva, Madrid 2011, p. 54.
[3] Cf. Ead., telephone connection 6-12-1984: Together on the way, Ciudad Nueva, Buenos Aires 1988, pp. 48-49.