Daily Reflection for Friday, June 17, 2022
Peace and Blessings, Friends and Parishioners,
We encourage you to reflect on Friday’s readings at this link:
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/061722.cfm
If you prefer to use your own Bible, the readings are:
First reading: 2 Kings 11:1-4,9-18,20
Responsorial: Psalm 132:11-14,17-18
Gospel: Matthew 6:19-23
Our reflection on Friday’s reading:
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth… But store up treasures in heaven...
Matthew 6:19-20
I have read this verse for many years and my mind always immediately went to money and worldly goods that give me a sense of security in this present world. But today’s gospel reminds me that all these worldly possessions are truly temporary and will do nothing for me in God’s kingdom.
But what does it mean to store up “treasures in heaven”? Today as I read the gospel, I am emerging from Pentecost Sunday with a new-found fire of the Holy Spirit! It seems likely that when I allow the Holy Spirit to affect me with its gifts of Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Generosity, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self Control; this is a very good start to “storing up treasures in heaven”. Each day we are either strengthening God’s Kingdom with our obedience to the Holy Spirit or weakening it with our self-centered secular actions.
Jesus reflected these gifts of the Spirit in his day-to-day interactions with the community around him. Few things in history have remained for two millennia. History has shown real results in the eternal nature of using these God-given gifts.
So, I pause and ask myself, “Where should I expend my energies and time?” Do I focus on things that last a short lifetime or things that are eternal? Lord, help me to store up eternal treasures in heaven through your gifts of the Holy Spirit. Help me to employ these gifts daily to affect my family, community, and your beautiful creation.
Paul Gunn