Something happened in the last few months that got my attention and has led me to want to share it with our parishioners. I was informed by two different people of the fact that two of our recently deceased parishioners have made Sacred Heart Church a beneficiary of part of the assets from their estate.
While I firstly thanked God for their thoughtfulness and generosity in making this decision before they died (and I hope leaving some of the proceeds of their estate to other entities that do God's work, especially among the poor), I realized that in my priesthood that it has been rare that even one, much less two in a short period has made the choice to give to God and his work "something" after their death. In the Gospel of Luke (12:13-15) we are told of a man who approached Jesus and asked him to tell his brother to give him a share of the inheritance (that he must have gotten from his father). Jesus's response was a teaching about the sin of greed and goes on to tell the parable of the man who kept "saving" his abundant harvest by building more and more bins unaware that he was going to soon die. Jesus then asked "to whom will your stored up wealth go?" (verse 20).
I'm confident that many of you have already done some estate planning. I found out this year upon my godmother's passing, as the executor of her Will how complicated, lengthy, and costly the legal process is when one goes the route of a Will versus a Trust. I hope all of our parishioners get good advice when it comes to what you leave behind of your money and possessions when you die. I pray as well that all of us will follow the example of the two dear ladies I mentioned "AND" give a Christ-like example to our family members and/or friends in what we leave behind in money and possessions to those in need, especially the poor. This can be one of the greatest (and obviously last) statements of your faith that you can teach to your children, grandchildren and your fellow brothers and sisters in the Lord.
While I firstly thanked God for their thoughtfulness and generosity in making this decision before they died (and I hope leaving some of the proceeds of their estate to other entities that do God's work, especially among the poor), I realized that in my priesthood that it has been rare that even one, much less two in a short period has made the choice to give to God and his work "something" after their death. In the Gospel of Luke (12:13-15) we are told of a man who approached Jesus and asked him to tell his brother to give him a share of the inheritance (that he must have gotten from his father). Jesus's response was a teaching about the sin of greed and goes on to tell the parable of the man who kept "saving" his abundant harvest by building more and more bins unaware that he was going to soon die. Jesus then asked "to whom will your stored up wealth go?" (verse 20).
I'm confident that many of you have already done some estate planning. I found out this year upon my godmother's passing, as the executor of her Will how complicated, lengthy, and costly the legal process is when one goes the route of a Will versus a Trust. I hope all of our parishioners get good advice when it comes to what you leave behind of your money and possessions when you die. I pray as well that all of us will follow the example of the two dear ladies I mentioned "AND" give a Christ-like example to our family members and/or friends in what we leave behind in money and possessions to those in need, especially the poor. This can be one of the greatest (and obviously last) statements of your faith that you can teach to your children, grandchildren and your fellow brothers and sisters in the Lord.