My Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
Jesus speaks to us of treasure, but it is not treasure of earthly things. He speaks to us of the treasure of divine love; the love which He offers us in the gift of the Eucharist. The Eucharist, His Real Presence, is a salvific gift for our flourishing all our days. In the course of time, we may desire earthly treasure.
We may want an “upgrade,” whether it be a phone or other instrument of technology, an automobile, a home, clothes or other things. Jesus tells us that the treasure of this earth is one another. Each one made in the image of God, marvelously made! — and there can be no other. We cannot be in relationship with God if we are not also in relationship with one another because of our relationship with God. Jesus tells us our upgrade is holiness to breathe upon the entire world.
I pray that people matter more to you than things because each one of you is born of God for God. If we live through, with and in God, then the treasure which Jesus describes will fill our heart until it might burst, so great is God’s love for each one. Jesus leaves Himself for us in the Eucharist that we might be His Presence to one another. St. Philip Neri is known to have said that the love of God was more than “he could bear, or his heart would burst with love.”
In every age, there is a turning away from God. When we read Scripture, from the Old to the New Testaments, we know of the sinfulness of the people. As we read, we might reflect upon our participation in turning away from God and how our situations may not be that different. Turn to the Sacrament of Reconciliation to mark your path toward God’s treasure. We are each called to strive for holiness and justice so that we live God’s Word, 24, 7, 365. In this, we serve one another as Jesus served His disciples. We become His hands of mercy, His word of comfort, His kiss of peace.
In a few days, August 11, our young people will begin a new school year. Parents, grandparents, guardians, siblings, teachers, staff, administrators, volunteers, clergy, and religious become united as one family, the deepest root of God’s omnipresence, that our young people might know, love and serve God. Everyone becomes God’s teacher, for we have committed ourselves to flourish the heavenly Kingdom on earth. We are called upon to be transfigured into the face of Jesus for one another. We are active, in relationship with one another as the family of God. As we open the doors of our schools, we open our heart to the treasure of these precious young people. We open our heart to the gift of Jesus within each one of them.
On August 15, we observe the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Our Blessed Mother leads us to be faithful. She shows us that holding firm in faith means accepting hardships, suffering, and loss without counting costs. She walks with us as we are vigilant in doing the Lord’s work. We follow Mary to the heavens that we might know her Son and live in constant fiat to His call, “Come follow me.”
In the words of Pope Leo XIV, “Let us ask God, by the intercession of His Mother, to bless all of you, your families, and your loved ones, and to help us all to walk together in the Church, united as the one family of God.”