Today’s Gospel is replete with messages for us (Luke: 12: 32-48 on being ready for the Master’s return). I wish to focus on a particular line which is of key importance in today’s world: “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
One can interpret these words in many ways. I want us to reflect on the virtues that should underpin our lives. Our treasure lies in Christian virtues – a habitual and firm disposition to do good. If we inculcate these in our hearts and live by them, we will surely be ready for the Master’s return. As St Gregory of Nyssa said: “The goal of a virtuous life is to become like God.”
During this Year of Mercy, read paras 1803-1845 of our Catechism on ‘Virtues’ and understand what a pivotal role they play in our lives, for example, the cardinal virtues: prudence, temperance, fortitude and justice; the theological virtues: faith, hope and charity; the 7 gifts of the Holy Spirit: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord; and the 12 Fruits of the Holy Spirit: charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control and chastity.
What is the use, though, of having treasure if we just hide it or keep it to ourselves? If we are to build God’s Kingdom of justice, peace, truth, love, freedom and forgiveness, we must discern our God-given gifts/talents and share these; use them to strengthen our family life, our communities, and the world. As we read in James 1:22, we are called to be doers of the Word and not hearers only.
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In February 2015, Pope Francis told a group of young people with disabilities that “life is a beautiful treasure that has meaning only if we share . . . . All of you have a chest, a box, and inside there is a treasure. If we keep it there, closed up, it will stay there. If we share it with others, the treasure will multiply with the treasures that come from others. Your job is to open the chest, discover the treasure, develop it, give it to others and receive from others the treasures they offer. What I want to ask of you is that you do not hide the treasure that each of you has.”
Now that our youth have returned from World Youth Day (WYD), what next? You will recall that in 2011 a document called YOUCAT was launched at WYD in Madrid – a Youth Catechism based on the Catechism.
On July 26 during WYD in Krakow, DOCAT was launched. As Women of Grace states, it “draws upon scripture, the Catechism and the Compendium of Catholic Social Teaching to guide teens into putting their faith in action in today’s world . . . it guides young people in conscience formation and Catholic action on social and political issues. It shows Catholics how to apply gospel values to poverty, imbalance of wealth, employment and unemployment, the use of natural resources and environmental concerns, terrorism, immigration and abortion, among other topics.
“DOCAT also features inspirational and insightful quotes from Catholic leaders and saints . . . excerpts from Pope Francis’ magisterial teaching; and important statements from his immediate predecessor regarding the four principles of Catholic social teaching: the dignity of the human person, the common good, subsidiarity and solidarity.”
Pope Francis says in the Foreword: “Dear young friends! Only conversion of heart can make our world, which is full of terror and violence, more humane. And that means patience, justice, prudence, dialogue, integrity, solidarity with victims, the needy, and the poorest, limitless dedication, love even unto death for the sake of the other. When you have understood that quite deeply, then you can change the world as committed Christians . . .
“DOCAT answers the question: ‘What should we do (as Catholics)?’ It is like a user’s manual that helps us change ourselves with the Gospel first, and then our closest surroundings, and finally the whole world. For with the power of the Gospel, we can truly change the world.”
As CTS books state, “DOCAT shows young people how to work towards building a “civilisation of love . . . .Whether used within the classroom or for faith-formation or for youth ministry, DOCAT is a superb resource to help guide young people to know, to understand and to live out Catholic Social Teaching.”
I urge all those involved in passing on our faith to youth to order the series (Ignatius Press). Our treasure also lies in our youth. Let’s empower them to face the vicissitudes of life and to change the world.
