＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

2 Corinthians 11:18, 21-30

As some people boast of human advantages,

I will do the same.   What a shame that I acted so weakly with you! But if others are so bold, I shall also dare, although I may speak like a fool. Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abra­ham? So am I.  Are they ministers of Christ? (I begin to talk like a madman) I am better than they.

Better than they with my numerous labors. Better than they with the time spent in prison. The beatings I received are beyond comparison. How many times have I found myself in danger of death!  Five times the Jews sentenced me to thirty-nine lashes.  Three times I was beaten with a rod, once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked, and once I spent a night and a day adrift on the high seas.

 I have been continually in hazards of traveling be­cause of rivers, because of bandits, because of my fellow Jews, or because of the pagans; in danger in the city, in the open country, at sea; in danger from false brothers.  I have worked and often la­bored without sleep, I have been hungry and thirsty and starv­ing, cold and without shelter.

 Besides these and other things, there was my daily concern for all thechurches.  Who is weak that I do not feel weak as well? Whoever stum­bles, am I not on hot bricks?  If it is necessary to boast, let me proclaim the occasions on which I was found weak.

 

Ps 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7

From all their distress God rescues the just.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊      

Matthew 6:19-23

 Do not store up treasure for yourself here on earth where moth and rust destroy it, and where thieves can steal it.   Store up treasure for yourself with God, where no moth or rust can destroy nor thief come and steal it.

 For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.

The lamp of the body is the eye; if your eyes are sound, your whole body will be in the light.   If your eyes are diseased your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

 

Gospel Reflection：

We tend to accumulate tings in our life time because of needs or desires. Needs could be very basic like food, clothing, shelter and the likes. It could later graduate into luxury or addiction as we gain more purchasing power. What are once necessities to live becomes a burden.

That is why the gospel today reminds us a basic truth. Do not make a habit of storing things of the earth. They take up lots of spaces and accumulate dusts. They also attract insects and rodents. And so they are destroyed through time. Whereas, good works stay forever in the memory of the Lord.

There may be no physical evidences left of our good works afterwards but it stays with God. It stays with us. It grows through the years. We may sometimes forget it, or abhor it after a terrible experience in life, but the memory will not fade. It will haunt us until we go back to doing good.