The Requiem and Palm Sunday

Last night, we went to hear the Santa Barbara Symphony's concert of Gabriel Fauré's Requiem. I've listened to this Requiem more than a hundred times, but nothing, I mean nothing, beats hearing it performed in person, particularly hearing the Pie Jesu sung in person with so much emotion and intensity that anyone who has ever mourned for the dead would understand.

But now it is Palm Sunday; A blessed Holy Week to you!

Celsae salutis gaudia
mundus fidelis iubilet:
Iesus, redemptor omnium,
mortis peremit principem.

Palmae et olivae surculos
coetus viando deferens,
"Hosanna David Filio"
claris frequentat vocibus.

Nos ergo summo principi
curramus omnes obviam;
melos canentes gloriae,
palmas geramus gaudii.

Cursusque nostros lubricos
donis beatis sublevet,
grates ut omni tempore
ipso feramus debitas.

Deo Patri sit gloria
eiusque soli Filio
cum Spiritu Paraclito,
in sempiterna saecula.
Amen.

Grace and Peace to you all this week.

Where is your heart?

Matthew 6:19-21:

Nolite thesaurizare vobis thesauros in terra, ubi aerugo et tinea demolitur, et ubi fures effodiunt et furantur; thesaurizate autem vobis thesauros in caelo, ubi neque aerugo neque tinea demolitur, et ubi fures non effodiunt nec furantur; ubi enim est thesaurus tuus, ibi erit et cor tuum.

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and decay destroy, and thieves break in and steal. But store up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.

Lately, I have been reflecting on just how distracted with earthly possessions I have become since I finished school and started a full-time career. When I was in school, I was content with seemingly little, but now, I have a lot more possessions than I used to. I buy things and use them only a few times; I buy books that may go years before finally being read; I invest and save money for various future investments and security. Some things are necessary, of course, but I pamper myself with conveniences. But even as I do these things, I should be more concerned with how I invest my time, my daily thoughts, and my service toward the Kingdom of God. That is where my heart should be. For the eternal reward that I hope for is not of this world.