St John the Evangelist Parish

August 10, 2025

Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

There was a young mother in my parish community who was depressed due to financial strain. She prayed for help. One morning, before Mass, she placed a zip-lock bag filled with jewelry and old coins on the counter. Smiling, she explained she had been fixing an old cabinet and found the items hidden deep within the walls of her home. One particular coin could be worth as much as $900,000. The contents of the bag–previously unknown to them–were now their prized possession. Their plans changed that week. They had to learn how much it was worth.

This week, the Lord tells us, “For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be” (Luke 12:34). Our lives revolve around what we treasure. When we discover the treasure the Father gives us — the kingdom of God — everything changes. We might not know its precise value, but we rearrange our lives around it. The joy of this discovery should never be far from our minds.

Sometimes we go through times when we can’t find this treasure. It seems hidden. Or it appears like dirty old coins and worthless jewelry in a Ziploc bag. But how crazy would my parishioners be if they tossed it away without knowing the cash value? How much crazier are we if we center our hearts on any treasure except that of Jesus and his kingdom? Remember, the Father is pleased to give it to us. That’s why we put our hearts there, even when it is hidden.