For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be!

I visited the Carmelite Monastery in Flemington, New Jersey, last Sunday, August 7th, 2016 and gave the following reflection during the Holy Hour. It was based on the gospel for the readings for the 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Homily for Carmelite Nuns on August 7^th

For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.

In today's gospel we hear Jesus talk about giving up everything earthly to be of service to the kingdom of God. “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be.” The heart of a priest is that of heavenly treasures and of service to the flock that Jesus placed in his care.

A couple of weeks back we heard of the brutal killing of Fr. Jacques Hamel, the French Priest who was killed by two Muslim Extremist. Fr. Hamel was doing what he has done for years: serving the people of God by celebrating Mass for them. Father Hamel was 85 years old and was living his life in service of the people of God and of his savior, Jesus Christ. He lived out his calling to the priesthood to the very end: he died at the altar of Christ and, as a result, is now a Martyr for the Lord. Father Hamel's treasure was that of heaven.

A brother priest of Fr. Hamel, Fr. Auguste Moanda-Phuatiis is quoted as saying, “He could have retired at 75 years old, but seeing how few priests were around he decided to stay and work, to continue to be of service to people, up until it all ended, tragically.”

Fr. Hamel was that good and faithful stewart that Jesus refers to in today's gospel when he says, “Who, then, is the faithful and prudent steward whom the master will put in charge of his servants to distribute the food allowance at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master on arrival finds doing so.” Fr. Hamel was distributing the heavenly food, the Body of Christ, when he met such a tragic end.

Another French priest that we can turn to who was a “good and faithful servant” is St. John Vianney, born on May 8^th, 1786, the fourth of six children. He was baptized the same day he was born. He was ordained a priest on August 12, 1815 after years of trouble with his studies in the seminary. In the year 1818 he was assigned to the parish in the small French town of Ars.

It was during this time, after the French Revolution, that he discovered that many people were ignorant of their Catholic faith. It was through his preaching that people started returning to the practice of their faith. St. John Vianney is quoted as saying about the Mass, “All the good works in the world are not equal to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass because they are the works of men; but the Mass is the work of God. Martyrdom is nothing in comparison for it is but the sacrifice of man to God; but the Mass is the sacrifice of God for man.” During the last ten years of his life, he spent up to 16 hours a day in the confessional. Even the bishop forbade him to attend the annual retreats of the diocesan clergy because of the souls awaiting him in his parish. He spent at least 11 or 12 hours a day in the confessional during winter, and up to 16 in the summer. St. John Vianey was a “good and faithful servant.”

Further, in this gospel for today, Our Lord is teaching all of us the need to share. The disciples are encourage to share their material goods. Possessions are never given ultimate value in St. Luke's Gospel. Real treasure is to be found in heaven. We are encouraged by Jesus to share our possessions with the poor and to give alms. These are kingdom values, and they lead to freedom from anxiety related to an abundance of possessions. One must serve God and not material possessions.

We are all encouraged to place God first in all that we do. We are also called, in addition to serving others out of love for God, to pray for our priests who minister to us and are able to bring us Jesus Christ in the various sacraments of the Church. Further, we are to pray for an increase in vocations to the priesthood.

In addition to praying for an increase in vocations, if we know young men that we would feel would make good priests, do not be afraid to encourage them to consider the priesthood and have them follow through on the possible call to service in the priesthood.

In my parish of St. Lucy's in the Bronx, my pastor, Fr. Pergjini, has a keen eye in spotting young men who may make good priests. As a result, four young men from St. Lucy's parish is entering St. Joseph’s seminary at the end of August. Pray for these men and their vocation to the priesthood.

Let us all be good and faithful servants of the Lord in whatever vocation God has placed us in, whether we're living in a cloister, or are husbands, wives, grandparents, workers in the work place. We are all called to serve God in whatever situation we find. Further we are encouraged to pray for an increase in vocations to the priesthood, and to encourage those we may know who we may feel are called to become priests. It is then that we, too, are good and faithful servants.