June 22, 2007 Friday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time

  2007년 6월 22일 연중 제11주간 금요일

 

 제1독서

코린토 2서 11,18.21ㄷ-30
형제 여러분, 18 많은 사람이 속된 기준으로 자랑하니 나도 자랑해 보렵니다. 21 어리석음에 빠진 자로서 말하는 것입니다만, 나도 자랑해 보렵니다.
22 그들이 히브리 사람입니까? 나도 그렇습니다. 그들이 이스라엘 사람입니까? 나도 그렇습니다. 그들이 아브라함의 후손입니까? 나도 그렇습니다. 23 그들이 그리스도의 일꾼입니까? 정신 나간 사람처럼 하는 말입니다만, 나는 더욱 그렇습니다. 나는 수고도 더 많이 하였고 옥살이도 더 많이 하였으며, 매질도 더 지독하게 당하였고 죽을 고비도 자주 넘겼습니다. 24 마흔에서 하나를 뺀 매를 유다인들에게 다섯 차례나 맞았습니다. 25 그리고 채찍으로 맞은 것이 세 번, 돌질을 당한 것이 한 번, 파선을 당한 것이 세 번입니다. 밤낮 하루를 꼬박 깊은 바다에서 떠다니기도 하였습니다. 26 자주 여행하는 동안에 늘 강물의 위험, 강도의 위험, 동족에게서 오는 위험, 이민족에게서 오는 위험, 고을에서 겪는 위험, 광야에서 겪는 위험, 바다에서 겪는 위험, 거짓 형제들 사이에서 겪는 위험이 뒤따랐습니다. 27 수고와 고생, 잦은 밤샘, 굶주림과 목마름, 잦은 결식, 추위와 헐벗음에 시달렸습니다.
28 그 밖의 것들은 제쳐 놓고서라도, 모든 교회에 대한 염려가 날마다 나를 짓누릅니다. 29 누가 약해지면 나도 약해지지 않겠습니까? 누가 다른 사람 때문에 죄를 지으면 나도 분개하지 않겠습니까? 30 내가 자랑해야 한다면 나의 약함을 드러내는 것들을 자랑하렵니다.

 

복음

마태오 6,19-23
그때에 예수님께서 제자들에게 말씀하셨다. 19 “너희는 자신을 위하여 보물을 땅에 쌓아 두지 마라. 땅에서는 좀과 녹이 망가뜨리고 도둑들이 뚫고 들어와 훔쳐 간다. 20 그러므로 하늘에 보물을 쌓아라. 거기에서는 좀도 녹도 망가뜨리지 못하고, 도둑들이 뚫고 들어오지도 못하며 훔쳐 가지도 못한다.
21 사실 너의 보물이 있는 곳에 너의 마음도 있다. 22 눈은 몸의 등불이다. 그러므로 네 눈이 맑으면 온몸도 환하고, 23 네 눈이 성하지 못하면 온몸도 어두울 것이다. 그러니 네 안에 있는 빛이 어둠이면 그 어둠이 얼마나 짙겠느냐?”

 

 

 

 June 22, 2007

 Friday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time

 Reading 1
2 Cor 11:18, 21-30

Brothers and sisters:
Since many boast according to the flesh, I too will boast.
To my shame I say that we were too weak!

But what anyone dares to boast of
(I am speaking in foolishness)
I also dare.
Are they Hebrews? So am I.
Are they children of Israel? So am I.
Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I.
Are they ministers of Christ?
(I am talking like an insane person).
I am still more, with far greater labors,
far more imprisonments, far worse beatings,
and numerous brushes with death.
Five times at the hands of the Jews
I received forty lashes minus one.
Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned,
three times I was shipwrecked,
I passed a night and a day on the deep;
on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers,
dangers from robbers, dangers from my own race,
dangers from Gentiles, dangers in the city,
dangers in the wilderness, dangers at sea,
dangers among false brothers;
in toil and hardship, through many sleepless nights,
through hunger and thirst, through frequent fastings,
through cold and exposure.
And apart from these things, there is the daily pressure upon me
of my anxiety for all the churches.
Who is weak, and I am not weak?
Who is led to sin, and I am not indignant?

If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7

R. (see 18b) From all their distress God rescues the just.
I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Let my soul glory in the LORD;
the lowly will hear me and be glad.
R. From all their distress God rescues the just.
Glorify the LORD with me,
let us together extol his name.
I sought the LORD, and he answered me
and delivered me from all my fears.
R. From all their distress God rescues the just.
Look to him that you may be radiant with joy,
and your faces may not blush with shame.
When the poor one called out, the LORD heard,
and from all his distress he saved him.
R. From all their distress God rescues the just.

Gospel
Mt 6:19-23

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth,
where moth and decay destroy, and thieves break in and steal.
But store up treasures in heaven,
where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal.
For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.

“The lamp of the body is the eye.
If your eye is sound, your whole body will be filled with light;
but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be in darkness.
And if the light in you is darkness, how great will the darkness be.”

 

 

 Commentary

 

It seems that the Corinthian church had a lot of folk who were making sure that others knew of their gifts and importance to the church. So Paul boasts too-of his sufferings, persecution, on and on and on-to best anyone in their church who have had it easy. He's been too busy trying to preach the gospel to have any sort of distinctions like they are claiming in their house-church. And he tells them that he is affected by their weaknesses and scandals.

And Jesus warns us not to lay up treasure here on earth. Instead we are to give treasure to the poor and so lay it up in heaven. Where do we put our treasure-our money, excess, resources, time, love, reputation, privilege, hope for the future? Does the light dwell in us and shine forth in our actions, our sharing, our looking upon others? 

 

 

 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness…(2 Cor 11:30)

Paul’s long list of distressing events could be seen as a complaining monologue. No one likes a complainer. So, why should Paul rattle off a long list of sufferings for the record? Why should we share with one another financial, family, and workplace, and school woes? We share our distress with one another in order to give glory to God and hope to others. When a colleague of mine lost a child to cancer he was so amazingly courageous and strong in the aftermath that he seemed nearly inhuman. Yet, he was so human in that setting that one could see the strength of the Spirit nearly oozing from his pores. He openly discussed his sorrow and shock and how his faith and church community gave him strength. He “boasted” of his weakness and gave glory to God’s faithfulness in the face of an unexplainable tragedy. I can vividly recall how powerfully he ministered to others during that time. No doubt there are many who have taken hope from his witness.

Telling others about the trials that we have faced also allows us to talk about the grace, strength, and/or rescue we received. We tell the story not to boast of our perseverance, but to give recognition to the strength that God and our faith communities provide. There may well be others who daily fight to cover up their financial struggles, their difficulties with their teenage children, or their marital problems. You may have wisdom and hope that they need to hear, but they won’t hear it if you also are covering up your struggles with those issues. We may keep our distress to ourselves in part because we’re storing up the earthly treasure of a good reputation. We want others to think that we are wonderful parents and responsible with our money. In The Purpose Driven Life, Rick Warren argues that the experiences that we are most embarrassed to have others discover are often our most powerful tools for ministry ? once we decide to share them instead of hide them. We have boasts of weakness that can offer hope to others who are struggling. If we must boast, let us boast of the things that show our weakness ? and the faithfulness of God to rescue, strengthen, and console.

 

 by
Sue Crawford
Departement of Political Science and Intl. Studies

 

 

“Lay up for yourselves treasure in heaven”

 

Jesus used the images of treasure and eyesight to covey the hidden truth of God’s kingdom. What Jesus said about treasure made perfect sense to his audience: keep what lasts!  Aren’t we all trying to find the treasure which brings security and happiness?  Jesus contrasts two very different kinds of wealth ? material and spiritual goods.  Jesus urges his disciples to get rich by investing in that which truly lasts, not just for a life-time, but for all eternity. How attainable is this heavenly treasure and can we enjoy it now, or must we wait for it in the after-life?  The treasure of God’s kingdom is both a present and future reality for those who seek it. What is this treasure which Jesus offers so freely? It is the joy of knowing the living God, being united with him, and receiving the inheritance of an imperishable kingdom ? a kingdom of peace, joy, and righteousness.  Since one’s whole life is directed by that which he most values, to set one’s heart on heavenly treasure will be to enter into a deeper and richer life with God.  Which treasure do you seek, earthly or heavenly treasure?

Jesus also used the image of eyesight to convey an important spiritual principle. Bad eyesight is often used as a metaphor for stupidity and spiritual blindness. (For examples, see Matt. 15:14, 23:16 ff.; John 9:39-41; Ro. 2 2:19; II Peter 1:9; and Revelations 3:17.) The eye is the window of the heart, mind, and “inner being” of a person.  If the window is clouded, dirty, or marred in any manner, the light will be deflected and diminished.  Just so with the “inner being” of a person!  How we “see” affects the “inner life”, “heart”, and “soul” of an individual.  What can blind or distort our “vision” of what is true, good, lovely, pure and everlasting (Phil. 4:8)?  Certainly prejudice, jealousy, and self-conceit cause distortion or blindness.  Prejudice destroys good judgment and blinds us to the facts and to their significance for us.  Jealousy makes us distrustful and suspicious of others and distorts our ability to accurately examine the facts. We need to fearlessly examine ourselves to see if we are living according to right principles or if we might be misguided by prejudice or some other conceit.  Love is not jealous ...but rejoices with the truth (1 Cor. 13:4-6). Do you rejoice in what is right and good and do you live your life in the light
of God’s truth?

“Lord, your word is life for us.  Fill me with your light and truth, and give me understanding of your ways.  Free me from all that is false, illusory, ugly, and unloving. Let my heart know only one treasure--the joy and bliss of union with you--Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.”

Psalm 132:11-14,17-18

11 The LORD swore to David a sure oath from which he will not turn back:  one of the sons of your body  I will set on your throne.
12 If your sons keep my covenant and my testimonies which I shall teach them, their sons also for ever shall sit upon your throne."
13 For the LORD has chosen Zion; he has desired it for his habitation:
14 "This is my resting place for ever; here I will dwell, for I have desired it.
17 There I will make a horn to sprout for David; I have prepared a lamp for my anointed.
18 His enemies I will clothe with shame, but upon himself his crown will shed its luster."

 

 

 BLACK LIGHT

'If your light is darkness, how deep will the darkness be!' Matthew 6:23

Have you ever been in a room illuminated only by a black light? Such a room is very dimly lit. Everything that's white shows up, such as teeth and white socks. Dark objects are barely visible. It's difficult to see how things interrelate. Picture the same room with the black light replaced by a hundred-watt bulb. Now that the room is brightly lit, it's easy to see and understand the proper relationship of all objects in the room.

Jesus describes a similar situation in today's Gospel. In modern society, we are bombarded with the values of a secular humanistic culture which disregards God. If we allow our minds and consciences to be formed by such ungodly input, then our 'light is darkness,' in fact, a 'deep' darkness (Mt 6:23). Like the person in black light, everything that is true can be seen, but not properly recognized. For example, it's a simple biological truth that abortion is murder. Yet to one whose light is darkness, this fact might be evident but not interrelated to the truth that all human life is sacred. one can't see clearly in the black light; the 'light is darkness.'

What programs do you watch? What do you listen to? Would Jesus say your eyes are good or bad? (Mt 6:22-23) Repent of focusing on the world's input. Instead, read Scripture and the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Be immersed in Jesus, for He has called us 'from darkness into His marvelous light' (1 Pt 2:9).

Praise: St. Paulinus listened to St. Ambrose, St. Martin, and St. Augustine and ultimately became a saint himself.
Prayer: Jesus, may I never prefer the darkness to You (Jn 3:19; 8:12). Help me to follow You always and be in the light (Jn 8:12).
Promise: 'Look to Him that you may be radiant with joy, and your faces may not blush with shame.' Ps 34:6

 

 

?Store up treasure for yourself with God, where no moth or rust can destroy nor thief come and steal it?

Today, the Lord tells us that ?the lamp of the body is the eye? (Mt 6:22). St. Thomas claims that when speaking of the eye Jesus refers to man's intentions. When our intention is right, luminous, pointing to God, all our actions are bright, resplendent; but when your intention becomes darkness. how dark will be the darkest part of us! (cf. Mt 6:23).

If we are malicious or wicked, our intention may not be straight, but more often than not this is just because we are lacking some good sense. We live as if we would have been born to pile up riches and we could think of nothing else. To make money, to buy, to possess, to have. We want others to admire us, or perhaps to envy us. We deceive one another, we suffer, we worry and pain and cannot find the desired happiness. But Jesus makes us another proposal: ?Store up treasure for yourself with God, where no moth or rust can destroy nor thief come and steal it? (Mt 6:20). Heaven is the barn where good actions are stored, and this sure is a forever lasting treasure.

Let us be sincere and honest with ourselves: where are our efforts directed to, which are our endeavours? True, good Christians must honestly study and labour to make a living, to raise a family, to insure their future and a peaceful life when old, and they must also work with an aim to help the others … All this is, indeed, a characteristic of a good Christian. But, if what you are looking for, is to have more and more all the time, placing your heart in those riches, forgetting any good action, drawing a blank upon the fact we are here just provisionally, that our life is just a passing shadow, is it not true ?then? that our eye is in darkness, ?how dark will be the darkest part of you!? (Mt 6:23). 

 

 

St. Paul continues the defense of his office as an apostle.   He first gives his “pedigree:”   He is a Hebrew of Hebrews, a Child of Israel, a descendant of Abraham and a minister of Christ.   (The word used for “minister” is “diakonos” from which we get our word “deacon.”)   He then states that he has suffered more than any of the rest in proclaiming the gospel: beatings, imprisonments, dangers of all kinds, shipwreck, and so on.   Further, there is his anxiety for all the Churches.    But he says that he will only boast of his weakness.
A part of maturity is to put off present pleasures for future enjoyment.    We who are Christians carry this a step further: We put on earthly enjoyment in order that we may enjoy eternal bliss.   In today’s gospel, Jesus tells us not to amass treasures on earth:   Moths eat; rust decays; all material things will pass.   Rather, we should amass treasure in heaven by our unselfish deeds of mercy.    Wherever we have our treasure, there will be our concern.    If we sacrifice the things of earth for the things of heaven, our heart will be concerned solely for heaven and the glory of God.

Also St. Paulinus of Nola (+431 A.D.)  
Paulinus was very wealthy.   He married and lived in Spain where he gave away most of his wealth.   He was ordained a priest.   Highly educated, he wrote wonderful poetry.   He carried on a correspondence with Augustine, Jerome, Ambrose, and Martin.  Many of his letters and poems have come down to us.  In 409, he was chosen bishop, but we know little of his achievements.   He represents the best in Roman and Christian civilization, and is an invaluable witness to the Church at the end of the Fourth, and the early part of the Fifth Centuries.

Also St. John Fisher (1459 - 1535) and St. Thomas More (1478 - 1535)
John Fisher and Thomas More were great Renaissance men.   They were friends of Erasmus and other humanists.  They were learned gentlemen.  Although Fisher was the bishop, More’s life was perhaps the simpler.  Both men walked among the great and the influential.   They were friends of King Henry VIII, but even more, they were loyal friends of the Lord.
The story of Henry VIII and his wives is well known.   When Henry could have no male heir by Catherine of Aragon, he divorced her after trying for an ecclesiastical annulment.  He said that the pope had no authority in England and that the king was the supreme head of the Church of England.   on pain of treason, every noble and bishop had to swear to the Act of Supremacy and the Act of Succession. 
John Fisher and Thomas More refused.   After lengthy imprisonment in the Tower of London, both were beheaded.   John Fisher was executed nine days before Thomas More.   It is often difficult to stand for what is right, especially when it goes against dear and influential friends.   But stand we must.
Except for John Fisher, every other bishop in England swore allegiance as the king demanded.   Thomas More at his trial recalled that Paul had participated in Stephen’s execution.   He prayed that his judges would also be united one day with him in heaven, just as Paul and Stephen were.   The world often seems great and wonderful.  But to these saints, the most important value of all is loyalty to Christ.