Our holy and glorious temple, where our fathers praised you, has been burned with fire, and all that we treasured lies in ruins.

For the Israelites their treasures were in the temple – not just gold and silver, but the places of worship, the tools, the rituals of sacrifice for sin and the history of praise within. The Temple was the gift of God where His Name dwelt among them. It was a reminder of His Holiness and His Presence among them. When it burned, they truly felt their treasure was in ruins. For us, the treasure is in our hearts – the Spirit of God, the gift of salvation, the Holy Presence of the love of Christ. The destruction of our bodies in death does not leave our treasure in ruins. Death is the door that opens our treasure to its promise and fulfillment.