I ALSO DARE TO BOAST…

2 Corinthians 11:18,21-30

18 since many boast of worldly things, I too will boast. 21 To my shame, I must say, we were too weak for that! But whatever any one dares to boast of–I am speaking as a fool–I also dare to boast of that. 22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I.
23 Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one–I am talking like a madman–with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. 24 Five times I have received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. 

25 Three times I have been beaten with rods; once I was stoned. Three times I have been shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been adrift at sea; 26 on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brethren; 27 in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. 28 And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure upon me of my anxiety for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant? 30 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.

Matthew 6:19-23

19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal.
21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. 22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is sound, your whole body will be full of light; 23 but if your eye is not sound, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!  

MEDITATION


THE FIRST READING: Paul deploy a healthy measure of tit for tat in response to reports that counterfeit christian preachers have done the rounds mesmerizing the community with flowery words and false claims. To be clear Paul’s ‘reward’ for being in service of the Lord did not yield any material gain; if any, he suffered much hardship, pain and humiliation for spreading the Good News serving the body of Christ! 

THE GOSPEL READING records a warning from Jesus that we need to avoid inclinations that is primarily focused on the desire to aquire material goods and a mental state that may be self-indulgent to the extent that we have a warped vision of God’s plan for us that exclude any kind of pain and suffering.

We certainly find ourselves in a world where our self value is based on our so-called “life style;” education, material goods, mental exercises, latest fads and like-minded friends we surround ourselves with. This kind of living does not nesseserilly always comport with our human experience and our physical, mental or spiritual ‘status’ as sons and daughters of Christ Jesus. When we advertise and boast about our “blessings” and material disposition it may reflect a disordered window into the desires of our hearts that can shipwreck our relationship with our Lord who is possible located at the bottom of our spiritual ladder. Christ Jesus is the ultimate imperishable treasure and light we are called to aquire and boast about who shall clear the fog that limit our path and vision of heaven!

LET US PRAY: Psalms 34:2-7

2 My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and be glad.
3 O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together!
4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears.
5 Look to him, and be radiant; so your faces shall never be ashamed.
6 This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. 7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.

Author. Henry R SYLVESTER Note: The daily scripture readings are taken from the Roman Missal which the Catholic Church use in the daily Celebration of the Holy Eucharist throughout the world.Some weekly readings may differ because of the celebration of local feast days

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