VOGEL — Where your treasure is ...

A line from a Christian song: “There was a rich young man, he went away sad; he wanted the things above along with the things he had.”

Such an endless struggle, we are human and want the pleasures of the flesh, yet our hearts seek the truth that can only be satisfied by the Holy Spirit.

Jesus shares this inspiration with His disciples, telling them the greatest among them must be a servant, not a master; and that sacrificing all for His name will surely be rewarded even in this world.

It comes down to faith and trust. First we must believe in the divinity of Jesus; then we must trust that there is a heavenly Father Who loves us, cares about us and will provide for our human needs.

Then we can let go of our anxiety about living in this world and follow our hearts where God has written His will for us.

We are to be like children, trusting without knowing. Indeed we are children to our heavenly Father, and we can be no more.

We may think, as did the rich man, that we have secured our own earthly wellbeing by our own means. But all that we have is a gift from God and even the clothes we are buried in will be left behind when we stand and are judged.

Treat what you have as the gift that it is and give freely to others as God has given to you.

And if you have only a little, believe that you are blessed for your path to heaven has been made easy; Jesus said that path is so hard for the rich man.

Poverty, physical challenges and illness are all around us. In the midst of these struggles, it can be difficult to see how we are blessed by God.

Yet, like the blind man, call out to Him in faith and persevere. You will be heard.

But if you are one who only see these struggles of others from a distance, you are missing what it is to be a Christian.

Jesus didn’t walk on by the beggar at Jericho; He didn’t ignore the children who were brought to Him.

So like Jesus, seek out those in need and do whatever you can in His name.

You will receive a hundred times over.

Mr. Vogel is a member of Cathedral of St. Joseph parish in Jefferson City.