Moth and Rust

Jesus said, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light; but if your eye is unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! “No one can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.” Matthew 6:19-24

This morning I spent time spraying WD-40 on rusted locks and other things that should move but have stopped. Rust, mold mildew, moths are a perennial problem. We often worry and fuss about our possessions. We worry that people will judge us harshly if we don't have the very best and look our very best. And yet, Jesus invites us today to put time into the treasures of our heart. The love we have been given in community and family. And in the sacrificial love we have been given in Jesus. Our true treasure!

Gracious Creator, the world awakes with beauty

and we delighting in the return of spring's beauty

often try to control it and claim it as our own.

You give us treasures, moment by moment.      

Your love surrounds us and restores us

yet we claim your gifts as our accomplishments.

Help us to not worry about life's possessions

instead let us focus love and love alone.

Let our life's be beacons of hope and joy

in a world that loves only commodity and wealth. Amen.