June 18, 2021 Friday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time

2021년 6월 18일 연중 제11주간 금요일 

 

오늘의 복음 : http://info.catholic.or.kr/missa/default.asp 

제1독서

<다른 것들은 제쳐 놓고서라도, 모든 교회에 대한 염려가 나를 짓누릅니다.>

코린토 2서. 11,18.21ㄷ-30
 18 많은 사람이 속된 기준으로 자랑하니 나도 자랑해 보렵니다.

21 누가 감히 자랑한다면, 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

<너의 보물이 있는 곳에 너의 마음도 있다.>

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 18, 2021 

Friday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time

 

Daily Readings — Audio

Daily Reflections — Video

http://www.usccb.org/bible/ 

Daily Mass : http://www.catholictv.com/shows/daily-mass 

 

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

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.”

http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html

 St. Paul reminds us in this part of his letter to the church in Corinth that they are called to focus on the one reality that most matters: their relationship with God.  He warns the Corinthians not to be dissuaded by the “super-apostles” who have swayed them against the teachings of the gospel by Paul, their founder. 

Paul’s “boast” is made up of the many ways that he has suffered for Christ in his ministry to the churches he founded.  He’s been imprisoned, beaten, endured all kinds of hardships, traveled extensively around the world of his time.  All these negative experiences he has endured for the sake of Christ and the churches he led to the Gospel of Christ. 

Paul’s is a wonderful, if stark, account of the hardships surrounding the preaching of the gospel.  He calls on the Corinthians to stay firm in his preaching to them. They are to avoid the contradictions brought about by the super apostles who seek to turn the people away from the faith received by Paul. 

St. Paul’s words are echoed in today’s gospel reading.  Where Paul encourages the church to stick to the essentials and hold them strongly, the gospel asks us to determine what is our “treasure.”  To discover our treasure is to find out where our heart is: with God or (selfishly) only with ourselves.  Sometimes we consider the treasure only from a negative perspective – what do we treasure? Things that draw us away from God’s love and Jesus’ life of joy and peace.  Definitely needed, but there is another side also to consider.

We all have experienced great treasures in this past year and several months.  There have been so many examples recently of those whose treasure has been exhibited in profound service to those who contracted the dreaded Covid19. 

Think of all those who, despite the pandemic, heroically gave themselves over to deep healing of those hobbled even to death by Covid.  We’ve all seen video of doctors, nurses and medical staffs beaten down by impossible shifts and extraordinary demands on their skills and energy.  Facing crushing odds and seemingly defeated, they stayed on task despite the patients who died by the thousands.   Think, too, of the wives, husbands and other loved ones completely separated from the ill; not able to visit and wipe the burning brows and hold the hands of their dear ones. 

Lord, help us to discover where our treasure is so that we can determine where our heart is to be found.  Where the heart is focused on self only, on wealth, on alcohol/drugs, that, with your guidance we may work against them and where the focus is on gratitude and joy in you and openness to your word, that we may be led to you and to your people, especially the poor among us. 

 http://www.presentationministries.com/obob/obob.asp

 

EYE OF THE HURRICANE

“If your eyes are good, your body will be filled with light.” —Matthew 6:22

Are your eyes good? Good eyes see only what God wants them to see. Good eyes do not look around carelessly (see Prv 4:25-27). That’s too dangerous. Good eyes are selective. We close our eyes lest we look on evil (Is 33:15). It’s important to protect them from the evil one. We must hold faith up as a shield (Eph 6:16) or be hit in the eye and be wounded.

Our eyes and thoughts “should be wholly directed to all that is true, all that deserves respect, all that is honest, pure, admirable, decent, virtuous, or worthy of praise” (Phil 4:8). Otherwise, we will carelessly expose ourselves to temptation. The forbidden fruit of sin is “pleasing to the eyes” (Gn 3:6). We will be tempted to treasure it and fall into sin. “Remember, where your treasure is, there your heart is also” (Mt 6:21).

Jesus emphasized controlling our eyes to the point of saying, “If your right eye is your trouble, gouge it out and throw it away! Better to lose part of your body than to have it all cast into Gehenna” (Mt 5:29). Girl-watching or boy-watching are not summer sports; rather, they are gambling with eternal salvation and damnation. Immodest dress is extremely serious. An afternoon “sight-seeing” at the pool could lead to an eternity in the fires of Gehenna. Indiscriminate TV viewing is Russian roulette. Handheld electronic devices open wide the path to destruction.  Jesus is not over-reacting. He is the Truth (Jn 14:6); we must repent and change.

Prayer:  Jesus, I accept You as Lord and Savior of my eyes.

Promise:  “Do not lay up for yourselves an earthly treasure.” —Mt 6:19

Praise:  Joseph and Martha insist that their children dress modestly and have the proper mindset for Church. They want God to be glorified and others to not be tempted during Holy Mass.

 http://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/readings/

 What do you treasure and seek after the most? What do you value above all else? Jesus offers a treasure of incomparable value and worth, but we need healthy eyes - good spiritual vision - to recognize what is the greatest treasure we can possess. What Jesus said about seeking treasure made perfect sense to his audience: keep what lasts! Aren't we all trying to find something we treasure in this life in the hope that it will bring us happiness, peace, and security?

God offers us the best treasure possible
Jesus contrasts two very different kinds of wealth - material wealth and spiritual wealth. Jesus urges his disciples to get rich by investing in wealth and treasure which truly lasts - not just for a life-time - but for all eternity as well. Jesus offers heavenly treasures which cannot lose their value by changing circumstances, such as diminishing currency, damage or destruction, loss or theft. The treasure which Jesus offers is kept safe and uncorrupted by God himself.

What is this treasure which Jesus offers so freely and graciously? It is the treasure of God himself - the source and giver of every good gift and blessing in this life - and a kingdom that will endure forever. The treasure of God's kingdom produces unspeakable joy because it unites us with the source of all joy and blessings which is God himself. God offers us the treasure of unending joy and friendship with himself and with all who are united with him in his heavenly kingdom.

A life-time investment that constantly grows and lasts forever
In Jesus Christ we receive an inheritance which the Apostle Peter describes asimperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for us (1 Peter 1:4). Paul the Apostle describes it as a kingdom of everlasting peace, joy, and righteousness in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17).

How realistic and attainable is this heavenly treasure? 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 a future reality - like an investment which grows and matures, ever increasing and multiplying in value, and producing an endless supply of rich rewards and benefits.

Seekers of great treasure will go to any length to receive their reward. They direct all their energies and resources to obtain the treasure. We instinctively direct our energies and resources - an even our whole lives - towards that which we most value. To set one's heart on heavenly treasure is to enter into a deeper and richer life with God himself. It is only by letting go of false treasure that one can enter into the joy of a heavenly treasure that is immeasurable and worth more than we can give in exchange. Do you seek the treasure which lasts for eternity?

Sin and deception blind the heart and mind to what is good, true, and of lasting value and worth
Jesus used the image of human vision - the ability to see clearly and accurately with the human eye - to convey a deeper truth and reality of spiritual and moral vision that can distinguish between what is true or false, good or bad, wise or foolish, helpful or hurtful to body, mind, and soul. Bad eyesight serve as a metaphor for moral stupidity and spiritual blindness (for examples, see Matthew 15:14, 23:16 ff.; John 9:39-41; Romans 2 2:19; 2 Peter 1:9; and Revelations 3:17.) The eye is the window of the heart, mind, and "inner being" of a person. How one views their life and reality reflects not only their personal vision - how they see themselves and the world around them, it also reflects their inner being and soul - the kind of moral person and character they choose for themselves. If the window through which we view life, truth, and reality is clouded, soiled, or marred in any way, then the light of God's truth will be deflected, diminished, and distorted.

Only Jesus Christ can free us from the spiritual darkness of sin, unbelief, and ignorance. That is why Jesus called himself the light of the world - the one true source of light that can overcome the darkness of sin and the lies and deception of Satan.

Pride, prejudice, and sin blind us to the way of truth, goodness, and love
What can blind or distort our "vision" of what is true, good, lovely, pure, and eternal (Philippians 4:8)? Certainly prejudice, jealousy, and self-conceit can distort true and clear judgment of ourselves and others and lead to moral blindness. Prejudice and self-conceit also destroys good judgment and blinds us to the facts and to their significance for us. Jealousy and envy make us despise others and mistrust them as enemies rather than friends. We need to fearlessly examine ourselves to see if we are living according to right judgment and sound principles or if we might be misguided by blind prejudice or some other conceit. Love is not jealous ...but rejoices with the truth (1 Corinthians 13:4-6). Do you live your life in the light of God's truth?

Lord Jesus, you have the words of everlasting life. May the light of your truth free me from the error of sin and deception. Take my heart and fill it with your love that I may desire you alone as my Treasure and my All.

Psalm 34:1-7

1 I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and be glad.
3 O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together!
4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears.
5 Look to him, and be radiant; so your faces shall never be ashamed.
6 This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.

Daily Quote from the Early Church Fathers: Seeking the right intention, by Augustine of Hippo, 430-543 A.D.

"We know that all our works are pure and pleasing in the sight of God if they are performed with a single heart. This means that they are performed out of charity and with an intention that is fixed on heaven. For 'love is the fulfillment of the law'(Romans 13:10). Therefore in this passage we ought to understand the eye as the intention with which we perform all our actions. If this intention is pure and upright and directing its gaze where it ought to be directed, then unfailingly all our works are good works, because they are performed in accordance with that intention. And by the expression 'whole body,' Christ designated all those works that he reproves and that he commands us to put to death. For the apostle also designates certain works as our 'members.' 'Therefore,' Paul writes, 'mortify your members which are on earth: fornication, uncleanness, covetousness' (Colossians 3:5), and all other such things." (excerpt from SERMON ON THE MOUNT 2.13.45)

 

 

More Homilies

 June 21, 2019