Gospel of Luke, chapter 10:42

Over the phone, his mother told him, “Mr. Belser died last night. The funeral is Wednesday.” Memories flashed through his mind like an old newsreel as he sat quietly remembering his childhood days.
“He is the one who taught me carpentry,” he said. “I wouldn’t be in this business if it weren’t for him. He spent a lot of time teaching me things he thought were important. Mom, Ill be there for the funeral,” Jack said.
As busy as he was, he kept his word. Jack caught the next flight to his hometown. Mr. Belser’s funeral was small and uneventful. He had no children of his own, and most of his relatives had passed away.
The night before, he had to return home, Jack and his Mom stopped by to see the old house next door one more time.
The house was exactly as he remembered. Every picture, every piece of furniture, Jack stopped suddenly…

“What’s wrong, Jack?” his Mom asked.
“The box is gone,” he said.
“What box?” Mom Asked.

“There was a small gold box that he kept locked on top of his desk. I must have asked him a thousand times what was inside. All he’d ever tell me was “the thing I value most,’” Jack said.
Returning home from work one day Jack discovered a package in his mailbox. The handwriting was difficult to read, but the return address caught his attention. “Mr. Harold Belser” it read. Jack ripped open the package. There inside was the gold box and an envelope. Jack’s hands shook as he read the note inside.
“Upon my death, please forward this to Jack Bennett. It’s the thing I valued most in my life.” A small key was taped to the letter. His heart racing, as tears filled his eyes, Jack carefully unlocked the box. There inside he found a beautiful gold pocket watch.
Running his fingers slowly over the finely etched casing, he unlatched the cover. Inside he found these words engraved: “Jack, Thanks for your time! Harold Belser.”
“The thing he valued most was…my time.” Jack muttered.
Jack held the watch for a few minutes, then called his office and cleared his appointments for the next two days. “Why?” Janet, his assistant asked.
“I need some time to spend with my son,” he said.
“Oh, by the way, Janet, thanks for your time!”

Comment:
Spending time with a friend is not a waste of time. It is what Jesus described as the better part of life. In today’s story, Jack learned that the thing his friend, Harold, valued most was the time he spent with him. Spend time with your friends! It could be the thing they value most about you.

Fr. Hugh Duffy