Are you young, aspiring to a purposeful life, a totally engaged life based on radical choices? Then listen to Jesus, because no one else in the world will ask as much of you as he does. You are being given an opportunity to prove your faith, your generosity, and your courage.

Are you an adult, longing for a meaningful, useful life built on solid ground? Are you an older person, wanting to give the last years of your life to someone who will not deceive you, free from frustrating worries that wear you out? These words of Jesus are also for you.

They conclude a series of exhortations in which Jesus asks you not to worry over what you will eat or what you will wear, but to act as the birds of the air which do not sow, and the lilies of the field which do not weave. Banish, therefore, from your heart all anxieties over the things of this earth. The Father who loves you more than the birds and the flowers, will take care of you himself.

This is why Jesus tells us:

"Sell your possessions, and give alms; provide yourselves with purses that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys."

In its entirety, and in every word it contains, the Gospel demands everything from us: everything we are and all that we possess.

As Jesus recalls when speaking about the "greatest commandment," such a request is already explicit, although not so specific, in the Old Testament, in which earthly riches were often considered as good, as a blessing from God. However, the obligation remained to share them with those in need for the sake of mercy and social justice, and also as a means to obtain the good pleasure of the Almighty.

Only later did the idea of a reward in the next life become more commonly accepted among members of the Jewish faith. According to a rabbinical tradition, a king answered those who accused him of having squandered his possessions: "My ancestors accumulated treasures for this life, but I have accumulated treasures for the next one."1

The originality of Jesus' words lies in the fact that he demands everything of you. He wants you to be carefree, not anxious about the things of this world. He wants you to rely on him alone.

He knows that earthly wealth is a tremendous obstacle because it can fill your heart, whereas he wants your heart for himself. This is why he urges you:

"Sell your possessions, and give alms; provide yourselves with purses that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys."

If you cannot share your possessions because of family ties or other responsibilities, or if your position demands a certain lifestyle, still you must be detached from your riches spiritually and act simply as their administrator. In this way, you can love others while you are dealing with wealth and, by administering it on their behalf, you can accumulate a treasure which moths cannot destroy, nor thieves carry off.

How can you be certain about what you should keep and what you should share? Listen to the voice of God within you; and if you cannot decide on your own, seek someone's advice. You'll find out how many superfluous things there are among your possessions. Do not keep them. Give. Give to those who have not. Put into practice these words of Jesus: "Sell... and give." If you do this, you will fill up purses which do not wear out.

Since you live in the world, it is only logical that you should be concerned with money and other material things. God, however, is asking you to be occupied, not preoccupied, with them. So secure for yourself what you need. As for the rest:

"Sell your possessions, and give alms; provide yourselves with purses that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys."

Pope Paul VI was truly poor. The way in which he wanted to be buried ("in a plain coffin in the bare earth") proved this. Shortly before dying he told his brother: "My suitcases for that important trip have been ready for some time."

This is what you should do, too: prepare your suitcase.

At the time of Jesus they may have been called "purses," but the meaning is the same. Prepare it day by day. Fill it with things that might be useful to others. You truly possess that which you give away. Think of how much hunger there is in the world, how much suffering, how many needs....

Put every act of love and every deed done for your neighbor into your suitcase as well. Do everything for God, telling him in your heart: "This is for you." Perform every action well, perfectly, because it is destined for heaven. It will remain for eternity.

Chiara Lubich