Early in his ministry, Jesus had told his disciples, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, …but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven…For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (NRSV, Matthew 6:19 - 21).  So all the innocent enjoyments which this life affords he had taken up into his enjoyment of his Father’s Presence.  Every object of affection he put second to his love for his Father which was so complete as to leave no room for any rival love.

This detachment from worldly things while still living in the world, can be seen most clearly on the Cross and what a lesson it provides for us!  How many are the things we covet or which we should be loath to part with when the time comes!  Good clothes – Jesus was stripped; a pleasant house – Jesus had only the Cross; money – Jesus was very poor; praise of human beings – Jesus was reviled; relations and friends – Jesus gave up his Mother and St John; life – Jesus gave up his for us.

If we possess some or all of these things, let us accept them gratefully but see ourselves as what we truly are – very temporary stewards of this world’s goods, not permanent owners.  We must leave all our so-called possessions when we die; let us therefore learn to be detached from them now, remembering that, “…one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions” (NRSV, Luke 12:15).