Cleric Urges Faithful to Prioritize Heavenly Treasure Over Earthly Wealth
By Polycarp Ifeanyi
The Parish Priest of Holy Trinity Catholic Parish, Iba-Pope, Awada, in Idemili North local Government Area of Anambra State, Very Rev. Fr. Dr. Marcel Chukwunonye, has admonished parishioners that heavenly treasure is far more important than earthly treasure.
Delivering his Sunday homily titled “Possessing the Heavenly Treasure” Fr. Marcel said while earthly wealth is temporal and ends on earth, heavenly treasure lasts forever.
Quoting Matthew 13:44-52, the cleric likened the Kingdom of God to a treasure hidden in a field.
“When you discover the heavenly treasure, it is far more important than earthly treasure. You should be willing to sell everything you have to possess it. To possess heavenly treasure, you must live a righteous life. Many have committed atrocities in their quest for earthly wealth,” he said.
Fr. Marcel lamented that some people resort to cultism, stealing, fraud, internet scams, and fornication in pursuit of riches. He warned that such practices will not lead to heaven, which he described as the ultimate expectation after life on earth.
Citing Mark 8:36, he reminded the congregation of Jesus’ words:
“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul?”
He further asked:
“What shall it profit you if you sell expired drugs to customers and lose heaven? What shall it profit you if you seize your neighbor’s land to build a beautiful house and lose heaven? What shall it profit you if you snatch your neighbor’s husband or wife and lose heaven? What shall it profit you if you kill your parents for money and lose heaven? What shall it profit you if you join a secret cult to acquire wealth and lose heaven?”
Concluding, the soft speaking priest referenced Matthew 5:29-30, where Jesus taught: “If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away.” He urged Christians to be mindful of how they pursue wealth and to guard against anything that could jeopardize their salvation.
