My dear brothers, Good morning! It is a joy to be with you today. You are now in a special time, an aspirancy stage, learning many new thing...
My dear brothers,
Good morning! It is a joy to be with you today. You are now in a special time, an aspirancy stage, learning many new things, especially English and how to live together as a community. These are very important steps on your journey to serve God, just as St. Matthew took a life-changing step to follow Jesus.
Today, the Church celebrates the Feast of St. Matthew, the Apostle and Evangelist. His story is a powerful example for us. Matthew was a tax collector, a man who worked with money. He was good at his job, maybe even clever like the man in Jesus' parable. But when Jesus called him, he left everything—his job, his money, his old life—to follow Him. His life changed forever because of one simple choice.
This brings us back to our three words for today: Pondering, Prudence, Priorities.
First, Pondering. This means to think deeply, to think carefully. Like St. Matthew, you have many things to learn. You learn English words, you learn about prayers, you learn about the Bible. But more than just learning words, you need to ponder them. Think about what God is telling you. Why are you here? What is your dream for God? Take time each day, maybe in your quiet prayer time, to ponder God's love for you and His plan for your life. This will help you know Him better and love Him more. This is what Matthew did when he heard Jesus' call; he pondered it in his heart and chose to follow.
Second, Prudence. This means to be wise, to be smart in how you do things. You live in a community now. You have a schedule: study time, prayer time, community work time, even free time. Being prudent means using your time well. It means helping your brothers, doing your chores without being asked, and using your talents to serve others.
In the Gospel today, Jesus tells a story about a manager who was very “clever.” He used his situation wisely to prepare for his future. Jesus is not saying to be dishonest, but He is saying: be just as clever, just as smart, in preparing for your spiritual future! St. Matthew was a prudent man in his worldly work, and he became even more prudent in his spiritual life. He used his cleverness and his education to write the Gospel, sharing the Good News with the world. You must also use your time here in the seminary wisely. Learn English well so you can share God's word with more people. Learn to live in community because a Claretian never serves alone; he serves with others. These are acts of prudence, preparing you to be faithful servants of God.
Finally, Priorities. This is about what comes first. In Amos, we hear about people who loved money more than God and more than helping the poor. Jesus tells us clearly: "You cannot serve both God and mammon (money)." For you, as Claretian Aspirants, your first priority must always be God.
Living in community, doing things together, following a schedule—these are all ways to help you put God first. St. Matthew’s first priority became Jesus. When he left his tax booth, he was showing that Jesus was his ultimate priority. When you pray together, God is your priority. When you help a brother who is struggling with English, you are putting love for your neighbor, and therefore God, as your priority. When you follow the schedule, you are showing discipline and respect for the community, which helps you grow closer to God.
My dear brothers, this aspirancy stage is a special gift. It is a time for you to learn faithfulness—faithfulness to God, to your community, and to your calling. By pondering God's word, by acting with prudence in your daily life, and by setting God as your ultimate priority, you are building a strong foundation for your life as future Claretians, just as St. Matthew did.
May God bless you as you continue to learn and grow. Remember, your faith in God and your faithfulness to Him will guide you in every step you take.
Amen.
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