The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to consider and act in response to the paradox that our witness of joy in our struggles strengthens our relationship with Christ and the people in our environment.
The Reading from the Second Letter to the Corinthians presents Paul’s boast about his Labours and his Weakness.
* [11:16–12:10] Paul now accepts the challenge of his opponents and indulges in boasting similar to theirs, but with differences that he has already signaled in 2 Cor 10:12–18 and that become clearer as he proceeds. He defines the nature of his project and unmistakably labels it as folly at the beginning and the end (2 Cor 11:16–23; 12:11). Yet his boast does not spring from ignorance (2 Cor 11:21; 12:6) nor is it concerned merely with human distinctions (2 Cor 11:18). Paul boasts “in moderation” (2 Cor 10:13, 15) and “in the Lord” (2 Cor 10:17).
* [11:16–29] The first part of Paul’s boast focuses on labors and afflictions, in which authentic service of Christ consists. (2 Corinthians, CHAPTER 11 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 34 implores us to trust in God alone.
* [Psalm 34] A thanksgiving in acrostic form, each line beginning with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. In this Psalm one letter is missing and two are in reverse order. The psalmist, fresh from the experience of being rescued (Ps 34:5, 7), can teach the “poor,” those who are defenseless, to trust in God alone (Ps 34:4, 12). God will make them powerful (Ps 34:5–11) and give them protection (Ps 34:12–22). (Psalms, PSALM 34 | USCCB, n.d.)
The Gospel of Matthew presents our Treasure in Heaven and The Light of the Body.
* [6:19–34] The remaining material of this chapter is taken almost entirely from Q. It deals principally with worldly possessions, and the controlling thought is summed up in Mt 6:24: the disciple can serve only one master and must choose between God and wealth (mammon). See further the note on Lk 16:9.
* [6:22–23] In this context the parable probably points to the need for the disciple to be enlightened by Jesus’ teaching on the transitory nature of earthly riches. (Matthew, CHAPTER 6 | USCCB, n.d.)
Jay Carney comments that part of him wishes Paul would pipe down, keep a “stiff upper lip,” and stop whining about his travails (or to echo one of my teenage children, “Paul, stop being so salty”!) However, his discomfort risks occluding one of the most important dimensions of Paul’s witness. For although he came out of an honor-shame culture, Paul is remarkably open about sharing his vulnerabilities. He even argues that these weaknesses enable him to receive and reflect Christ’s saving grace – something the “spiritually strong” struggle with throughout Paul’s letters.
As a middle-class American scholar, I admire but do not share Paul’s physical and economic deprivations. But like all human beings, I have limitations, vulnerabilities, gaps, and weaknesses, some of which I would prefer to ignore, downplay, or deny. Like Paul, can I not only admit these, but see Christ’s transformative grace shining through them? (Carney, 2025)
Don Schwager quotes “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) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Matthew 6:19-23 asks what are some of these heavenly treasures?
Take our identity as a child of God: The all-powerful eternal Creator invites us to live as his son or daughter for all eternity! … Or ponder God’s amazing gift of forgiveness: In Jesus, God offers pardon for every sin, for all time. No accusations need stand against us… Finally, consider the eternal goodness of human love: In our relationships with our family and friends, we experience a glimpse of the divine love that is the source and completion of all human love.
These are just a few treasures that will last. When we place our hope in them, we are storing up treasures that will keep us focused on Christ here and now—and that will fill us with eternal joy in heaven. And as we treasure the things of eternity, we will find their source, our Father, who made them.
“Lord, help me set my sights on things above and treasure what truly matters.” (Meditation on Matthew 6:19-23, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments that 2 Corinthians continues as part of the “angry letter” response to accusations of being an inferior preacher. He shares his suffering and willingness to die to self as an essential quality of a minister. The Gospel from the Sermon on the Mount implores us to store spiritual not material treasures and depend on things that last. Friar Jude notes that the eye is presented as a window into the soul in this very dualistic passage that directs us to follow Christ, the Light of the World, and avoid things that will drag us down in our mind.
Barbara Holmes describes how we can find joy through practice and surrender. She asks how do we foster embodied presence and joy?
I believe we do it through practice and through meditation. Left to your own devices, the natural state of the human brain is a wandering and critical mind. Meditation helps bring that chaos into a more peaceful state. If it’s difficult, begin with sitting in silence. Let your mind do what it wants before slowly bringing it into the present moment. Use music if it helps. The second thing I would suggest is to awaken to the joy in nature. Purposely pay attention to sunsets and sunrises, to the sounds of nature, and other expressions of joy in the environment. Third, I would suggest that you develop an appreciation for the everyday graces, the sound of children playing, the traffic that won’t let us get home when we want to but allows a pause in our frenetic going. (Holmes, n.d.)
We seek the consolation and guidance of the Spirit to inform our desire to transform our suffering and weakness to testimony to the Love and Providence of God.
References
Carney, J. (2025, June 20). Daily Reflection June 20, 2025 | Creighton Online Ministries. Creighton Online Ministries. Retrieved June 20, 2025, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-june-20-2025
Holmes, B. (n.d.). Pathways to Joy. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved June 20, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/pathways-to-joy/
Matthew, CHAPTER 6 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved June 20, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/6?19
Meditation on Matthew 6:19-23. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved June 20, 2025, from https://wau.org/meditations/2025/06/20/1309798/
Psalms, PSALM 34 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved June 20, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/34?2
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Lay up Treasure in Heaven. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved June 20, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2025&date=jun20
2 Corinthians, CHAPTER 11 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved June 20, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/2corinthians/11?18
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