June 18, 2021

June 18

June 18, 2021:  Friday, 11th week, Ordinary Time

See about a dozen connections with today?
Legend below

Listen
    Read
    • 2 Cor 11:18, 21-30  Since many boast, I will too.  Like others, I'm a descendant of Abraham and a minister of Christ, but with greater labors, more imprisonments, dangers, and brushes with death.  There's daily pressure on me; I'm anxious for all the churches.  I'll boast of things that show my weakness.
    • Ps 34:2-7  "From all their distress God rescues the just."  Glorify the Lord with me.  The Lord answered and delivered me.  Look to him and be radiant.  When the poor call, the Lord hears and saves.
    • Mt 6:19-23  “Don't store up treasures on earth, where they can be destroyed or stolen; store treasures in heaven where they're safe.  Where your treasure is, there will your heart be.  “The lamp of the body is the eye; if it's sound, your body will be filled with light, or else it'll be in darkness....
    Reflect
    • Creighton:  Paul calls the Corinthians to stay firm in his preaching, focusing on their relationship with God, not to letting themselves be swayed away from gospel teachings.  Paul boasts of how he's suffered for Christ in his ministry, enduring imprisonment, beatings, and hardships for the sake of Christ and the churches he led to the Gospel.  As Paul’s encourages us to hold onto the essentials, the gospel asks us to determine what our “treasure” is and so to find out whether our our heart is with God or only with ourselves.  We've all experienced  treasures during this pandemic.  Think of those who heroically gave themselves over to heal those hobbled even to death:  overworked healthcare personnel staying on task against crushing odds, people not able to visit and hold their sick loved ones.... 
    • One Bread, One Body:  Good eyes see what God wants them to see.  Selective, they don't look around aimlessly.  We close our eyes lest we look on evil; we must hold faith up as a shield lest we be wounded.  If our eyes and thoughts aren't directed to what's true, honest, pure, admirable, decent, virtuous, praiseworthy, and deserving of respect, we'll be tempted to fall into sin.  “Where your treasure is, there is your heart.”  Jesus emphasized controlling our eyes:  “If your eye is your trouble, gouge it out; better to lose part of your body than to have it all cast into Gehenna”...
    • Passionist:  Things can control our life:  what we 'need' or want, what "makes life easier" or proves status, 'wealth,' or happiness, what fills our time, what we obsess over, worry about, or hoard.  But Jesus shows us God's way, opening us to the 'treasure' of living in his kingdom.  Pay attention to your longings and behaviors.  Don't collect pleasures that will wear out or be stolen.  Things need to be kept in perspective.  What do I really need?  What can I share?  What feeds my ego?  What opens my heart?  If the eye lets in light, what smudges do I need to wipe away to see more clearly what:  prejudice, bias, jealousy, self-centeredness...?  What keeps us from harmony with ourselves, others, and God?
    • DailyScripture.net:  Jesus offers treasure, but we need good vision to recognize it.  He contrasts material and spiritual wealth and urges his disciples to invest in wealth that lasts forever, heavenly treasure God protects, the treasure of God himself and his kingdom, available now.  May I direct my energy to obtain it by entering into deeper life with God, letting go of false treasure.  Blurred vision is a metaphor for moral and spiritual blindness.  My vision reflects not only how I see myself and the world but also my inner being and character.  Clouded vision distorts the light of God's truth.  Only Christ, Light of the World, can free us from spiritual darkness....
    Dress legend
    • 'Stone' tie pin:  "Once I was stoned" (1st reading)
    • 'Sailboat' tie bar:  "Three times I was shipwrecked" (1st reading)
    • 'Car with mouth' pin:  The Lord's praise shall ever be in my mouth (psalm)
    • 'Heart' tie bar:  Where your treasure is, there will your heart be.  (gospel)
    • 'Money bag' tie pin:  use your wealth for the common good (gospel)
    • 'Street lamp' tie bar:  Your body will be filled with light; "the lamp of the body..." (gospel)
      • 'Eyeball' pin:  "...is the eye." (gospel); look to the Lord... (psalm)
      • 'Musical notes with "joy"' pin:  ...and be radiant with joy (psalm)
      • Suspenders with globe and dark background:  “Don't store up for yourselves treasures on earth"; if your eye is bad, your body will be in darkness (gospel)
        • Green shirt:  Ordinary Time season
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