R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

As Jesus was setting out on a journey, a man ran up,
knelt down before him, and asked him,
“Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
Jesus answered him, “Why do you call me good?
No one is good but God alone.
You know the commandments: You shall not kill;
you shall not commit adultery;
you shall not steal;
you shall not bear false witness;
you shall not defraud;
honor your father and your mother.”
He replied and said to him,
“Teacher, all of these I have observed from my youth.”
Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him,
“You are lacking in one thing.
Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor
and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.”
At that statement his face fell,
and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.

Jesus looked around and said to his disciples,
“How hard it is for those who have wealth
to enter the kingdom of God!”
The disciples were amazed at his words.
So Jesus again said to them in reply,
“Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!
It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle
than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”
They were exceedingly astonished and said among themselves,
“Then who can be saved?”
Jesus looked at them and said,
“For human beings it is impossible, but not for God.
All things are possible for God.”
Peter began to say to him,
“We have given up everything and followed you.”
Jesus said, “Amen, I say to you,
there is no one who has given up house or brothers or sisters
or mother or father or children or lands
for my sake and for the sake of the gospel
who will not receive a hundred times more now in this present age:
houses and brothers and sisters
and mothers and children and lands,
with persecutions, and eternal life in the age to come.”

The rich young man in today’s Gospel made a choice not to become “a full-time disciple” of our Lord because of his huge amount of worldly goods. He liked his comfort level and was not about to give it up. Instead, he went away sad, unable to give it all up, and so to be a full-time disciple of our Lord was a, “No.”

The rich young man was indeed a fine young man. He was spiritually alive. He was moral. He kept all ten of God’s Commandments. I think that this his wholesomeness never went away, and he went on to live a very full life. And when his earthly journey was done, he met the Lord once again in Heaven.

I have met many young men and women like this rich young man. They have everything going for them. I pray always that it continues, and that they do not take the wrong (It happens too many times).

Someone joked with me once saying, “If it were up to you, Monsignor, you would have all of our young ones become nuns or priests!” Well, I would like them to live wholesome and holy lives and so get to Heaven – so if God calls them to the holy priesthood or to become a sister, simply say, “Yes.”

To become a saint, there are no shortcuts. Keep the Commandments – all of them.

And whatever you do, don’t forget to ask the question, “What is the meaning of life?” Saint Thomas Aquinas says it well: “The ultimate and principle meaning for us is to enjoy God Himself,” especially when our earthly journey is done. That is the ultimate fulfillment of why we are here – to enjoy ultimate and eternal happiness in the Beatific Vision of God.

The Book of Wisdom reminds us to be prudent in life. It is priceless when we live with wisdom. The reading from Hebrews today compares the Word of God to a very, very sharp knife, like a sword that enters soul and spirit, our joints and our marrow – even our hearts – so that we can see God Himself. And we must render an account to Him!

Saint Augustine reminds us that we will never rest until we rest in God. Therefore, do your very best, and accept only the best. Do not be spiritually lazy or slothful. Build your house with wisdom and love. Pray that every day you progress in keeping the Lord’s Ten Commandments.

The sacraments, especially the Eucharist that we now celebrate, are given by Christ so that we receive all the spiritual graces, to be transformed by faith, and that one day, we may smile upon God in the unspeakable bliss of the Beatific Vision. Accept only the best in your life!

Monsignor Michael J. Cariglio, Jr., Pastor & Rector, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Basilica – Saint Anthony Parish

I prayed, and prudence was given me;
I pleaded, and the spirit of wisdom came to me.
I preferred her to scepter and throne,
and deemed riches nothing in comparison with her,
nor did I liken any priceless gem to her;
because all gold, in view of her, is a little sand,
and before her, silver is to be accounted mire.
Beyond health and comeliness I loved her,
and I chose to have her rather than the light,
because the splendor of her never yields to sleep.
Yet all good things together came to me in her company,
and countless riches at her hands.

R. (14)    Fill us with your love, O Lord, and we will sing for joy!
Teach us to number our days aright,
that we may gain wisdom of heart.
Return, O LORD! How long?
Have pity on your servants!
R. Fill us with your love, O Lord, and we will sing for joy!
Fill us at daybreak with your kindness,
that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days.
Make us glad, for the days when you afflicted us,
for the years when we saw evil.
R. Fill us with your love, O Lord, and we will sing for joy!
Let your work be seen by your servants
and your glory by their children;
and may the gracious care of the LORD our God be ours;
prosper the work of our hands for us!
Prosper the work of our hands!
R. Fill us with your love, O Lord, and we will sing for joy!

Brothers and sisters:
Indeed the word of God is living and effective,
sharper than any two-edged sword,
penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow,
and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.
No creature is concealed from him,
but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of him
to whom we must render an account.

It has long been a Catholic understanding that when circumstances prevent one from receiving Holy Communion, it is possible to make an Act of Spiritual Communion, which is a source of grace. Spiritual Communion is an ardent desire to receive Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament and lovingly embrace him at a time or in circumstances when one cannot receive Him in sacramental Communion. The most common reason for making an Act of Spiritual Communion is when a person cannot attend Mass. Acts of Spiritual Communion increase our desire to receive sacramental Communion and help us avoid the sins that would make us unable to receive Holy Communion worthily.

Spiritual Communion Prayer

My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.

I love you above all things and I desire to receive you in my soul.

Since I cannot at this moment receive you sacramentally,

Come at least spiritually into my heart.

I embrace you as if you were already there

And unite myself wholly to you.

Never permit me to be separated from you.

Amen.