There is a television programme which, I believe, is still in production. The show focuses on antiques. People line up for what seem to be hours in order to have expert appraisers examine their hidden treasures in an attempt to discover whether there is any value attached to their possessions or not.
Whether we realize it or not, the Catholic Church has a treasure, and it has nothing to do with the value of goods on any market. Our greatest treasure is the presence of the living God. Jesus is present in the Blessed Sacrament. Inside every tabernacle, He sits quietly, waiting for us to come to him. When we do, when we sit or kneel in His presence, He is always willing to listen to our prayers ... and if we develop a discipline of visiting with Him in this way, before we know it, we are drawn deeper and deeper into the mystery of a special relationship of love.
Those who have discovered the gift of this relationship know that when we walk into other places that are customarily used for worship, but where this special presence of God is not present, the space feels different. The prophet Hosea warns that we should be careful not to fall to the temptation to believe that mere things are worthy of worship (cf Hosea 8:4-7, 11-13). It seems to me that once we have discovered the real treasure that lies silent within the tabernacle, worship of mere things can never be enough to satisfy the longing within our souls.
Have a great day.
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