In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

     Recently, one of our kids said she wished I'd preach a sermon aimed at 10 year olds in the congregation. Well, of course I thought all my sermons were easily understood by "kids" of all ages! But as I thought about what she'd said, I realized that examples and illustrations, themselves, are often about adult issues in life-issues that may not yet be relevant to the average, ordinary 10 or 11 year old-if there is such a thing. And so, in my ongoing desire to pander to all our members, here, at least, is something even 10 year olds can relate to-the recent movie, "Pirates of the Caribbean". Or for that matter, we could talk about the Disney "Pirates of the Caribbean" rides at their amusement parks. And to really pander to the adolescent crowd, let me ask, do you know what the new pirate movie is rated? ARRRRR! And here's one for the adults, "what's a pirate's favorite aspect of computational linguistics? PARRRsing sentences. Well, enough of that. Because the point is not the movie, or pirates, per say-what I really want to get at is-what is it that pirates are always searching for? Treasure! And what is Jesus talking about in the first paragraph of our Gospel lesson? Treasure! And what an enduring notion that is-treasure! There was a time when I thought the dream of finding hidden treasure was something that only kids of my generation and older would understand. During summers when I was a kid, we were all about digging for hidden treasure-in the back yard, in the empty lot, up on my grandparent's farm. Then, we went through a period when pirates and treasure were placed on a shelf, while kids pretended to be Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker. But times change, and books and movies have cycles, and the All-Pike's Peak Read program had everyone reading "Treasure Island", and the movie "Hook" came out, and now three "Pirates of the Caribbean"-and once again, kids are dressing up like pirates, and who knows, maybe they're once again digging in the back yard for buried treasure! Which, if nothing else, makes Jesus' notion of "treasure", once again relevant, contemporary, a part of modern culture. Everyone knows what treasure is-we-just don't understand what Jesus means when he says, "make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. Similarly, does anyone readily understand what Jesus means when he says, "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also"?

     Oh, immediately, we think we know what Jesus is saying. We've heard those sayings of Jesus lots of times. They're read in Sunday services, they're quoted in stewardship programs, the last saying is even cited in literature and films-probably even in pirate films, as the buccaneers are looking for buried treasure! But, as with so many familiar biblical texts, do we really understand what Jesus is saying? Martin Luther dealt with this text, talking, as we did last Sunday, about money or treasure, as an idol, a false god. Fr. Luther wrote, "what help do his great treasures and riches offer to the emperor when the hour comes in which he is to die? Money", writes Luther, "is a shameful, odious, impotent god who cannot even help someone who has an ulcer-nay, the god money can't even help himself! There the idol lies in the money chest and has to let himself be served. Indeed, one must take care of money as of an impotent, powerless, weak thing. The person who has money must see to it day and night that thieves do not steal their idol. This impotent god can help neither himself nor anyone else. You should be ashamed of this dead god-money, who cannot help in the least, and yet is considered so noble and precious, protected with great chests and castles. And one who has money must watch and worry every hour lest his money perish in a fire or some other misfortune. If this treasure or god consists in clothing, one must watch and protect it against the most insignificant worms, against moths, so that they do not ruin or devour your precious, expensive clothes." Luther continues, "should not the very walls spit at us for trusting more in that god whom moths devour and rust ruins than in the God who creates and gives all, nay, who has heaven and earth and everything that is therein in the palm of His hand?" You see, the message is, money simply lies there waiting for us to serve and protect it at all costs. The Living, True God loves us, and serves us, and cares for us, and saves and redeems us! This, money, gold, treasure could never do! Oh, income and retirement funds have their place, as tools for us to provide for ourselves and others-as resources we can use to glorify God.but when they become little gods that we carry around in gilded chests, or in jewel-studded purses as lord of our lives-Luther says the very walls should spit at us in disgust, that we trust more in that god whom moths devour and rust ruins, than in the God who creates and gives all-the God who has heaven and earth and everything, in the palm of his hand!

     Which brings us back, of course, to last week's sermon, when it was pointed out that the bottom line is, it's not about money and treasure and riches-it really is all about God and our relationship with God. Which means its all about faith. Do we place our faith in our money, our bank account, our investments, or do we place our faith in the God who created and gives all, and holds heaven and earth in the palm of his hand? Our first and second readings highlight that, as we hear in Genesis, how Abram-Abraham believed the Lord, placed his faith in the Lord, and the Lord reckoned it to him as righteousness; which is recounted in our reading from Hebrews, as we hear, not just about the faith of Abraham, but the faith of Abel, and Enoch, and Noah. In Hebrews we read, "now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval. By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible." In Hebrews we read, "whoever would approach God must believe, have faith that God exists, and that he rewards those who seek him." You see, Jesus is saying it is all about God, and faith in God. It is all about placing all our hope and trust in God, and not in earthly wealth or income-that can quickly and easily dry up and disappear. And why are we to trust, have faith in God? So that we need not be afraid, in life. So that we can trust that God will care for us and provide for us, no matter what happens, no matter the job, or position, or title, or pay scale we end up with. St. Cyril of Alexandria, whom we heard from last Sunday, says in his commentary on Luke, "Jesus announced not only to the holy apostles, but to all living on the earth, that people must seek his kingdom. He announced this, being sure that what God gives will be sufficient for them to be in need of nothing else. What, then, does he say? Fear not, little flock. And by 'do not fear', he means that they must believe that certainly and without doubt their heavenly Father will give the means of life to those who love him. He will not neglect his own. Rather he will open his hand to them-the hand which ever fills the universe with goodness."

     And yes, this takes faith, this takes trust-to be able to believe, and live the good news, that God gives the means of life to those who love him.that God will not neglect his own. We are more accustomed to planning our financial futures to the penny, trying our darnedest to control our destiny by having enough money in reserve, and a large enough nest egg, and a job that provides more than enough for our necessities, as well as the nasty little pleasures we enjoy. We are caught up in striving for what we are to eat and drink, and earn and buy and accumulate. Which serves us well, until we loose our job, the stock market drops, we suffer through a divorce, our life situation changes.and then, once again, we hear the comforting words of Jesus, "have no fear little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." The words of the Savior break through our anxiety and worry, as He says, "therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life.and do not keep striving for what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not keep worrying.for your Father knows you need them. Strive instead for the kingdom and these things will be given you as well." And how, in the midst of unemployment, divorce, illness, grief-how do we come up with such faith? Thankfully, it, too, is a gift from God! In the Small Catechism, Luther writes in the meaning of the Third Article of the Creed, "I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength, believe in Jesus Christ my Lord or come to him. But the Holy Spirit calls me through the Gospel, enlightens me with His gifts, and sanctifies and keeps me in true faith." The reason Jesus can say, "don't worry, do not keep striving, do not fear-have faith", is because God Himself is faithful, and God Himself provides for us, the Spirit, who encourages us, and emboldens us, and uplifts us, so that we can, have faith, and live by faith. And faith is, as Luther says, simply "letting God be God"-realizing that there is a god, and you're not Him! Which brings, freedom, and release. Which brings comfort and contentment. Which brings life, and abundant life, and finally, eternal life! Which is why, after speaking about these things, Jesus calls us to be ready, and alert, and actively watching, for His return-so that our faith will not only be for life-earthly life-but unto eternal life, as well! So that day by day and moment by moment, we will keeping our hearts focused on Jesus with us, so that we'll be ready for Jesus yet to return. So that day by day and moment by moment, we will indeed have our hearts, where our treasure-is. For, as Jesus says, "where your treasure is, there will your HeAAAARt be also!"

     In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.