Daily Readings - Fri Jun 18 2021
2 Corinthians
18Since many boast according to the flesh, I too will boast.21To my shame, I must say, we were too weak for that!But whatever anyone else dares to boast of--I am speaking as a fool--I also dare to boast of that.22Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they offspring of Abraham? So am I.23Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one--I am talking like a madman--with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death.24Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one.25Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea;26on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers;27in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.28And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.29Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant?30If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.
Matthew
19"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal,20but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.22"The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light,23but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!
Sermon
In today’s readings, we are invited to reflect on the nature of true wealth and the enduring power of faith amidst suffering. The First Reading from 2 Corinthians presents St. Paul’s passionate defense of his apostleship, where he catalogues his countless trials—imprisonments, beatings, shipwrecks, and endless labors. Yet, far from complaining, Paul sees these sufferings as a badge of honor, for they testify to his unwavering commitment to Christ and the churches he serves. His boast is not in his strength but in his weakness, through which the power of God shines forth. This passage reminds us that our worth is not measured by worldly standards of success or comfort but by our fidelity to the Gospel, even when it demands sacrifice.
The Gospel from Matthew 6 offers a complementary message. Jesus warns against storing up treasures on earth, where they can be corrupted or stolen, and instead encourages us to accumulate treasures in heaven. He links this to the state of our hearts, emphasizing that our true treasure is what draws our heart’s desire. The image of the eye as the lamp of the body underscores the importance of purity of intention and focus. If our gaze is fixed on earthly riches or fleeting pleasures, our inner light grows dim. But if our hearts are set on heavenly things, our entire being is illuminated with the light of Christ. Together, these readings challenge us to reevaluate our priorities and to seek a life of detachment from materialism and attachment to eternal values.
As we apply these teachings to our daily lives, let us ask ourselves: Where am I investing my time, energy, and resources? Am I building up treasures that will endure beyond this life, or am I chasing after things that will ultimately perish? St. Paul’s example calls us to embrace the sacrifices that come with following Christ, trusting that they will bear fruit in ways we may not even see. Jesus’ words remind us to keep our hearts pure and our vision clear, so that we may live as children of light in a world often consumed by darkness. May we strive to live with simplicity, generosity, and a deep trust in God’s providence, storing up treasures in heaven where no thief can steal and no moth can corrupt.