Last weekend we considered the phrase from Luke’s Gospel that spoke of being “rich in what matters to God.” It is a good phrase to meditate on anytime. This week the sentence of today’s Gospel that follows along, and is fitting for further meditation, says: “For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.”When I was pastor of St. Francis Parish on Long Beach Island, NJ, during the summer vacationers would mention that having some leisure time helped them to put things in perspective. They gave some thought about what was important to them and if they were giving enough time and attention to those priorities. In the hustle and bustle of life here in the Big Apple, these questions can often get lost, but they have surfaced in Luke’s Gospel these weekends. As St. Augustine once said: “Our hearts are restless until they rest in you.” There are many treasures in each of our lives. How do they speak of God’s place in your life?
One person who is a good example of “finding her treasure” is St. Clare of Assisi. Today is her feast day. She was a contemporary of St. Francis and even though she came from nobility, this was not enough for her. She was attracted to Francis’ preaching and the austerity of his life. One night, she snuck out of her family house in Assisi and ventured down to where St. Francis and the brothers lived. She began a new life under St. Francis’ guidance. We have the Poor Clares today who follow her way of life. Happy and Blessed Feast day to all the Poor Clares!
-Fr. Andrew Reitz, O.F.M.