Daily Readings - Fri Jun 23 2023
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 reminded of the challenges of living a life of faith and the importance of keeping our focus on what truly matters. The first reading from 2 Corinthians finds St. Paul defending his apostleship and recounting the many trials he has endured for the sake of the Gospel. He lists his sufferings—imprisonments, beatings, shipwrecks, and countless dangers—to emphasize his unwavering commitment to Christ and the churches he serves. Paul’s words are not about boasting but about showing that his life is entirely dedicated to God, even in the face of immense hardship.
In the Gospel, Jesus teaches us about the dangers of earthly treasures and the importance of keeping our hearts focused on heaven. He warns that where our treasure is, there our heart will be. Jesus also uses the metaphor of the eye as the lamp of the body, reminding us that our spiritual vision determines the state of our soul. If our vision is corrupted by worldly desires, our entire being becomes darkened. These teachings call us to evaluate our priorities and ensure that our hearts are not consumed by materialism or fleeting comforts.
The readings today challenge us to reflect on our own lives. Are we allowing the trials and distractions of the world to pull us away from God? Like St. Paul, we are called to perseverance and faithfulness, even when the path is difficult. And like Jesus’ teachings, we must ask ourselves: Where is our treasure? Is it in the things of this world, or is it in the eternal life God promises? Let us strive to keep our eyes fixed on Christ, the true light, and our hearts rooted in the treasures that will last forever. In doing so, we will find the strength to endure life’s challenges and the clarity to live with purpose.