Reading and meditation on the Word of God on Friday of the 11th week in ordinary time, June 20, 2025

Delivered by Samuel Ivan Gunarsa from the Parish of Mary of All the Nations in the Diocese of Bogor, Indonesia. 2 Corinthians 11: 18.21b-30; Rs psalm 34: 2-3.4-5.6-7; Matthew 6: 19-23.ETERNAL TREASURE Our meditation today is entitled:Eternal Treasure. Walking along the road to a modern and large shopping centerin the capital city of Jakarta, at the right corner of the gate, you can see ahomeless person, a man of 50’s, who is fed every day by  passersby. He seems to just sit and lie on apile of things. He maybe disabled so he cannot stand and walk. Every time he begs, he always saysthis following words: "For the sake of my soul and body." Thisexpression may give us a profound meaning. It has a religious insight that leadsus to marvel about the purpose of life and from where it comes from. Maybe hehas been involved to talk with some of the passersby, but his statement iscertainly an invitation for everyone to reflect on the meaning of life on thisworld. Many people flood the mall with alltheir money for shopping. They go out of the mall with the appearance as peopletypcally of this time of history. They want to enjoy the preciousness of thisworld today in the building full with air conditioned. That disabled and poorman who represents the unfortunate people of our society, is actually showinghis poor condition by begging, but he at the same time presents an importantteaching to all people about his identity as a dignified human person and asGod's creation. This is related to the purpose of Godsending us to the world, looking after us, and bringing us back to His placeafter our lives in this world ends. The welfare of the soul and body is thepurpose of our lives in this world, or as expressed spiritually namely oursalvation as children of God. The Lord Jesus calls our attention through thepreaching of the Gospel today about having possessions here in the world andalso the treasure that we will have after this world. That poor man answers theteaching of God by proclaiming to the world that the real treasure for ushumans is the salvation of our souls and bodies. It is all that God wants. The people of this world arestruggling to make a living anywhere and under any conditions, those who workwith all muscles and with mind, those who have little, enough or abundantpossessions, those who are sick or healthy; all are reminded of the sameinvitation namely: to pay attention to the goodness and well-being of the bodyand soul. To guarantee that we always make this eternal treasure remain in ourattention, Saint Paul gives this proposal: that we should remind and care forone another in Christ, so that all will be saved. Let's pray. In the name of theFather ... O God almighty, strengthen our faith, hope and love that we maycontinue to have You as our eternal treasure. Glory to the Father and to theSon and to the Holy Spirit ... In the name of the Father...