Greatest Treasure

In 1999 I visited the ruins of Beth Shan in Israel, a once remarkably glorious city. Like most Roman cities, in its day. the main street led to a busy marketplace and magnificent amphitheater. This main thoroughfare was the center of the city - its "cardo," a term from which we derive our English word “heart.”

A favorite author, Barbara Johnson, writes: "All that is worth cherishing in this world begins in the heart, not in the head."  Of course, we all know this but what we treasure unconsciously becomes very off-center  The Bible describes Mary's treasure after Jesus' birth: "But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart." (Luke 2:19)  Now, we know the physical heart is where it's happening - everything comes & goes from there. So it is with our spiritual heart!  I fear we fill our hearts with too many passing treasures, leaving little room for the useful and the lasting. Mary heard the angels' message from the shepherds about The Savior -- the Child whom she carried, birthed, the nursed that very night. His message would forever remain The Treasure of her heart. What if our treasures, too, were of eternal significance and we held them just as closely as Mary held the Christ-child that night?  We, too, find precious treasures of peace, comfort, rest, security, and eternity.  Something terribly significant happened that night: Mary gave birth to (delivered) Jesus and that very same Jesus gave new birth to Mary -- delivered her soul for all eternity. He gave her a new heart filled with the Greatest Treasure of all -- "the Savior Who is Christ the Lord." (V.11)  Rejoice, my friend!  He is still the Greatest Treasure!