Treasures and Hearts
Scripture Readings for Ash Wednesday: Joel 2:1-2, 12-17; Psalm 51:1-17;
2 Corinthians 5:20b—6:10; and Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21
 

Matthew 6:21 states that where our treasure is, our heart will follow—not the other way around. Passion, strength, and commitment—the giving of our heart—will follow what we hold dearest and what we most delight in. The heart listens closely to that which is deep within. The heart aligns itself with what it treasures, energy to energy, beat to beat.
Sometimes we think it is the other way, that our treasure follows our heart. But the heart needs to know what it values before it can give itself away. Are there beloved children treasured deep within? There, the heart will find its center. Is there a cherished talent to give, to share—a thirst to draw, to sing, to run, to lead? The heart will be drawn to these treasures.
It is Ash Wednesday. Jesus invites us to listen to him, and also to ourselves. He knows the cross is ahead. His heart can go no other way, given that his treasure is the Father, whose own treasure is the Son. So Jesus wants us to listen. What is it that we treasure? What is it that our heart beats for when all is still, when all we are left with is its most basic, raw rhythm?
Do we treasure personal attention? Religious affirmation? The sound of our own prayers? Our own goodness? Our own sense of righteousness? That kind of treasure doesn’t cut it if Lent, or life itself, is to mean anything at all.
If we are to follow Jesus there can be only one great treasure within: Jesus himself. The word of hope before us today is this: Jesus is our treasure. From that treasure the heart moves, energy is released. Lenten discipline, Lenten focus, Lenten service, Lenten giving, springs forth.
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