Thursday, June 18, 2015

11th Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 19-06-15

2 Cor 11:18, 21-30 / Matthew 6:19-23

What is obvious does not need much common sense to derive its meaning.

But what is obvious can escape our attention, just as common sense may not be that common.

Just like what Jesus taught in today's gospel about treasures in heaven.

It is obvious enough that whatever treasures we have amassed in this world cannot be brought to the next world.

Besides the possibility of being destroyed and stolen, our earthly treasures can go as far as with us into the coffin but no further.

That's obvious enough especially when we see death happening everyday. But our hearts may be somewhere else and thus that obvious reality may not be stark enough to jolt us into our common sense mode.

Although the teachings of Jesus is often obvious enough and appeals to our common sense, what St. Paul talked about in the 1st reading does not make much sense - in fact he says that he seemed to be talking like a fool.

And he even says that he had something to boast about - his sufferings - imprisonment, whipped, beaten, stoned, shipwrecked, always in danger,

But his heart, his daily preoccupation, is his anxiety for the churches.

His heart is for the people of God and their salvation.

That's where St. Paul's heart was. So where is our heart, and what are we anxious about? Because where our heart is, there is also our treasure. That's obvious enough.