Luke 12:32-40
Many of us are concerned about not having enough money for things like a home and lot, property, savings, and other necessities. We receive this from the wealthy and powerful, who believe that material possessions are vital indicators of how well you perform as a great and successful individual. The Gospel of Luke, on the other hand, depicts a different understanding of riches and/or treasure. The gospel demonstrates a new understanding of richness that may be found in the body. The human body is our only true asset. And the “heart” (verse 34) is the most valuable aspect of this treasure.
Jesus emphasizes the heart as the most essential element of the body. The heart’s capacity to express love, pleasure, compassion, and care for others. Psalm 34:18 states that the heart makes choices for the whole body since it influences what we do and choose. When we keep all of God’s instructions in our minds, we live longer and experience more peace and prosperity (Proverbs 10:8). So, the heart is the most important asset.
We adore people and care for the disadvantaged. In Filipino, it means “puso,” which represents Gilas Pilipinas’ nationalism and enthusiasm. This is due to Filipinos’ passion for basketball, which is played on several courts around the nation. We like playing basketball since it is a simple treasure we may have. Basketball symbolizes the Filipino poor’s heart. They do not have money, yet they participate and support it.
From a religious perspective, the Heart of Jesus symbol seen in many Filipino homes represents love, mercy, and compassion. It implies that it communicates directly with individuals and that Jesus loves everyone. The nicest thing we can say to anybody is that we adore mankind. The world is in turmoil, and no one can ever get together without it. Jesus took a bold stand when he suggested we should love our enemies (Matthew 5:44).
From this perspective, we need the heart to love our adversaries because it must be meek, patient, and humble. St. Augustine wrote about the human heart as a location where humans might encounter God. God created the human heart so that we may discover God there. So, our hearts serve as a conduit for connecting with others, particularly those who are impoverished and in need of assistance. When we connect with them, we are expressing unconditional love for them, as Jesus taught us.
Because it is employed alternately, the heart has power over our ideas, emotions, and goals. This helps us better grasp our spirituality. Our hearts and souls are the primary factors that influence how we behave and interact with God. It is the gateway to knowing and comprehending the Supreme Being. Simply defined, our moral and ethical nature stems from our hearts. And this is the wonderful gift that Jesus desires for us and everyone.
The Apostle Paul reminds us that we should not give up since a new heart keeps us ethically transformed every day (2 Corinthians 4:16). The heart is the most crucial thing we need to protect and care for. A non-spiritual heart is meaningless and incapable of loving others.
Prayer
Almighty God, cleanse our hearts to have compassion for the poor and needy. As we know, our heart makes us transformed believers of this world. Hoping for your unconditional love, which may bless us to become mature believers. This is our prayer in the name of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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Prof. Ruel D. Garcia is a theology professor at La Consolacion University Philippines as well as the former editor-in-chief of the International Journal on Culture, History, and Religion (IJCHR.paschr.ph).
