FRIDAY OF THE ELEVENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME - Gospel (Mt 6:19-23) - THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

“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.” (Mt 6:23)

FIRST READING - 11:18, 21-30

A reading from the Second Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians

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.

GOSPEL OF THE DAY - 6:19-23

From the Gospel according to Matthew

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.”

FRIDAY OF THE ELEVENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME - Gospel (Mt 6:19-23)

THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

Dear People of God,

Today’s Word of God teaches everyone how to accumulate treasures for the Kingdom of Heaven. He said: “Store up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal.” So, how can we obtain treasures in the Kingdom of Heaven?

In the human world, there are two types of treasures:

• First, spiritual treasures: love and charity.

• Second, earthly treasures: money, status, and fame.

Jesus taught that spiritual treasures are the treasures of the Kingdom of Heaven. When people have love and charity and share with others selflessly and without calculation, no thief can ever steal those treasures. In contrast, earthly wealth is fleeting—money, position, and fame can all be taken away by Satan. When that happens, the person who has focused on accumulating such wealth will be left empty-handed.

Therefore, God wants to teach humankind a wise lesson about which treasures to accumulate and which not to accumulate.

Jesus loves humanity. He warns and teaches people what is good and what is bad, what should be done and what should be avoided. Whoever is wise and desires eternal life should listen to God’s teachings and work hard to accumulate the treasures of the Kingdom of Heaven. This means working diligently to help save souls, for saving souls is storing treasure for God. Souls are spiritual treasures that Satan cannot steal from God's hands.

But if someone is preoccupied with becoming rich and accumulating earthly treasures, thieves will come and steal them—that is, Satan will come and take them away.

That’s why the Word of God today reminds us: “For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.” Only the treasures of love, charity, sacrifice, and forgiveness can truly live within each person’s soul.

Moreover, God teaches us to have pure souls, clear eyes, and hearts that are moved by mercy and full of forgiveness toward others. Lastly, we must also turn to God with gratitude for His love and thank Him in all circumstances.

When we know how to store many spiritual treasures for God, He will reward us in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Thanks be to God. Amen.