Eye and Heart

Greetings on this the Friday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time
Readings: 2 Cor 11:18, 21-30; PS 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7; Mt 6:19-23

First Reading
Paul continues his contrasting with the SuperApostles. In part the similarities and in part the differences. Perhaps we can express Paul in a quip to shorten the reflection?

What is the difference between bacon and eggs?
The Chick is committed, the Pig is “All In”.

Quip digested
Chickens produce eggs so they contribute, true.
But the pig becomes bacon, there is nothing left to give.

Responsorial Psalm
From all their distress God rescues the just.

Alleluia Verse
Blessed are the poor in spirit;
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.

Gospel Portion
Eye (not eyes) is the focus of the person. Your eye focuses on this or that. Beyond simply eyesight, our Eye focuses on what we want it to focus on.

Heart (not muscle) is the reason we focus the eye. The Eye will focus on what the heart tells it to focus on (set aside the conflict between body and spirit for a minute).

Light (not sunlight) is the character of the personal being. The soul is filled with light and of what sort of light is the question.

Eye and Heart Corollaries

The astute see an evil and hide, while the naïve continue on and pay the penalty (Prov 22:3).

The heart changes one’s face, either for good or for evil (Sir 13:25).

Misers are evil people, they turn away and disregard others. The eye of the miserly is rapacious for food, but there is none of it on their own table (Sir 14:8, 10).

Gospel Focus

“The lamp of the body is the eye.
If your eye is sound, your whole body will be filled with light;
but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be in darkness.
And if the light in you is darkness, how great will the darkness be.”

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry