19th JUNE. FRIDAY IN WEEK 11

READINGS

1.2Corinthians 11:18,21-30 ( Paul Boasts about his hardships in carrying out his ministry)

2.Gospel: Matthew 6:19-23

REFLECTIONS AND MEDITATIONS(Do not lay up earthly treasure where moths and rust corrode)

The scriptures today, more especially the sermon on the mountain touch on a problem we feel about Paul’s boasting. Exactly we can ask ourselves a simple question that what is making Paul to boast as we are told from the readings more especially the first reading from Paul’s  second letter to the Corinthians? Boasting Paul is speaking about is all about failures, disappointments and rejections he has suffered. Strictly speaking what we may try and meditate upon what Paul boasts of, humanly speaking we may come up with many questions whose answers may not be explained, moreover, people would consider such Paul’s boasting as the great misfortunes and this according to their minds should be mentioned in a hushed tones. It is under the same note, Jesus in the gospel is putting it plainly that “ do not lay up for yourselves an earthly treasure. Moths and rust corrode... instead, store up heavenly treasure..... if your vision is bad, you will be in darkness. And if your light is darkness, how deep the darkness will be.”( Mt 6:19). Paul is boasting because he sees what kind of rejection and suffering he is undergoing as the means for him to attain the heavenly treasure, moreover, these are the means to strengthen him in his apostolic ministry; it was because of his devotion to Christ that suffering and misfortune came his way. It is the same call and invitations to us all that in our ministries whenever we face challenges and difficulties, it is when we become strong and mature Christians.

Jesus in the gospel speaks of treasure; the simple question that we can preface before us is that, what kind of treasure is that? The answer to that simple question is that God himself is the treasure we should invest all our energy and time to make sure that we strive to live the very life of God, for God is the source of life. The kingdom of God is the summit of all the treasures because it unites with the source of all joy and blessing which is God Himself. The treasure being said in the scriptures can be described in terms of present and in terms of future (eschatology) being described in the present it means that the values of the kingdom of God are already with us us we pray in our Lord’s prayer “our father who at in heaven, your kingdom come.......” this means that the elements of God’s kingdom like, love, peace, joy, forgiveness, perseverance etc are being experienced in our lives. The treasure to be said in the future means; we are not yet perfect as our father in heaven is perfect, we are still on our faith pilgrimage seeking to be perfect. The question to be pondered on is that, what kind of treasure are we striving to attain? We are invited to set our hearts on heavenly treasure and thus enter into a deep relationship with our heavenly father.

From the gospel we hear Jesus telling us to have a “good eye,” filled with light and so able to see goodness and light in the actions and hearts of others. We can also ask ourselves this question that how spiritually are we blinded? In this context we are invited all to have eyes of faith that will enable us to see the image of Christ in others, to see good things in others, to avoid a pre-mature judgement on others. The eyes of faith will make us to love our brothers and sisters regardless of their frailties. The way man  see things and judges them gives an impression what kind of moral person is, under this context  we should not take an advantage of our brothers and sisters vices to boast ourselves, rather with our eyes of faith we should love them and lead them in good direction. As an eye helps us to see where we are going, likewise we are all called to be eyes and light, our good actions and dispositions should be the example to our fellow brothers and sister who have not yet seen the light of our Lord Jesus Christ.