We are familiar from history with dynastic quarrels and arguments, wars being fought over the succession to thrones and kingdoms: who is the rightful heir? is might always right? Such conflicts break out within societies between different groups, even within families often over rights of inheritance.
Human beings have an infinite capacity for finding reasons to divide off from others, to create rival factions, to fight over wealth and power. The history of God's people contains such moments also as we hear in the first reading today. We might find ourselves scandalised and shocked, wondering why we listen to such stories. What have they to do with me or you, with my relationship with God or with yours?
The words of Jesus in the gospel are fresh air by comparison: treasure things that are eternal, not things of this earth. Place your heart's desire there, with Christ, in the kingdom of heaven, not in any earthly kingdom. The heart and the eye need to be sound, what we desire and how we see things. Our love and our hold on truth, in other words. If these are right, all will be well.
It does not mean that we will not sometimes get our hands dirty with the world's affairs: power, wealth, social and political questions, the complexities of human relationships. But it will mean that these are never ultimate for us, they are not divine realities and do not deserve our fundamental loyalty and commitment.
There are good believers engaged in worldly affairs, men and women who are striving to follow Christ in how they live their lives and who are also politicians, soldiers, public servants of one kind or another. They carry out their duties with an eye always to the dignity of each human person and to the requirements of the common good. They do it for motives that are not self-serving.
When they do that, even though it is in world of politics and business, such disciples of Christ are keeping their heart and their eye sound. They serve the human community but valuing that service always as a preparation, an anticipation, of the eternal kingdom where God alone is king, and whose life and business are always characterised by justice, love and peace.
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