Have you claimed your inheritance?

A TALK ON INHERITANCE
John 17:14–18

Jesus did not die without leaving us an inheritance.  It was a simple but profound gift: “Peace I leave you… May they all be one.”  His desire was that we live in unity and peace, caring for and loving one another. That’s the inheritance He left - not gold or land or possessions - but peace and unity.

This gives me the opportunity to speak about the topic of inheritance, something rarely touched upon in homilies. I remember someone once asking me to preach on it, and I’ve never forgotten that request.

Let me tell you about two wills that crossed my path.

When I was a young priest at Pantasaph, each Friday in the summer a coach or two would arrive from Rhyl, and I was asked to sing to the visitors.  Among them was a lady from Birmingham who came every year.  She once told me she held the world record for watching The Sound of Music - 875 times consecutively at the Birmingham Gaumont Picture House.  She bought tickets for the first 400 performances, and after that, the cinema let her in free.  Eventually, some authority even paid for her to fly to America, where she met Julie Andrews, the children from the musical, and the original von Trapp family.  Every time she visited Pantasaph, she would sing two songs from the musical.  In time, she passed away - and in her will, she left everything she had to me: £2,750.  May God reward her.

But the most touching will I ever read was my mother’s.  When it was read aloud, it brought a flood of tears to her children - not because of what she left, but because of the way she expressed her love.

When Dad died, the family decided to give Mum a regular sum of money each week to support her.  She never spent a penny of it on herself.  Quietly and lovingly, she banked it all for us.  In her will, she wrote words to this effect: “You lovingly and generously gave me this sum of money.  I have kept it safe for you and now I return it with thanks and love.”

When she was making her will, she asked me what she should leave to me.  I told her that the Order looks after me, and that there was no need to leave me anything.  But I suggested she might leave a sum of money for Masses to be offered for Dad and for herself.  I assured her I would be honoured and happy to celebrate those Masses.

Now, we know that inheritance can sometimes cause tension and sorrow.  Children are occasionally hurt or disappointed by what is. or isn’t, left to them.  My advice is simple: don’t expect anything.  That way, whatever you do receive will bring gratitude, not resentment.

We must remember: what belongs to a person is theirs.  It is not for others to dictate how they should distribute it.  I've heard people talk as though they had the right to decide someone else’s will, even before that person has died.  They don’t.  It’s not their place.

Sometimes, I’ve read about large sums of money left to a cat or a dog.  That always strikes me as ridiculous - money that could have gone to so many worthy causes.  I can't help but think of how much good could be done with such a bequest.

I am sure no parent wants their final act, writing a will, to become a cause of division among their children.  And yet, sadly, it happens.  I’ve seen siblings fall out over what they’ve been left, refusing to speak to each other for the rest of their lives.  It’s tragic.  I pray that parents are aware of this possibility when drafting their wills and take care to prevent such divisions.

Let us return to where we began - with the inheritance Jesus left us.  Unity. Peace. Love.

So, Lord Jesus, we thank You for Your gift.  When we think of our earthly inheritance, may we be grateful for what has been given to us, and may it lead to unity in our families.   May it never divide us but draw us closer together, loving each other as You prayed we would.  Amen.