Readings: 2 Corinthians 11:18, 21-30; Psalm 34; Matthew 6:19-23
I would like to begin today’s reflection by encouraging you to watch the movie “The Case for Christ.” It tells the compelling story of Lee Strobel, a journalist and avowed atheist, whose world is shaken when his wife embraces the Christian faith. In a bid to rescue her from what he sees as delusion, Lee sets out to disprove the Resurrection—the cornerstone of Christianity. Ironically, the deeper he investigates, the more he is confronted by profound historical and medical evidence that challenges his skepticism. One of the most moving scenes is when a physician describes, in medical detail, the extent of Christ’s physical suffering. It is a moment that pierces the heart. Christ suffered in ways beyond imagination—and He did so, entirely, out of love.
In today’s First Reading, St. Paul offers us a glimpse into the sufferings he endured for the sake of the Gospel. His account is nothing short of staggering: five times lashed with thirty-nine strokes, beaten, stoned, shipwrecked, exposed to the cold, starved of food and water, surrounded by danger—rivers, robbers, betrayals by fellow Jews and Gentiles alike. And alongside all of this was his daily pastoral burden—his deep anxiety for the Churches, and his solidarity in the sufferings of the people he ministered to. What a staggering life!
Reading this, I must confess that I feel both humbled and challenged. I realise how easily I sometimes grumble under pressure, how quickly I grow weary or discouraged in the face of pastoral hardship. St. Paul’s testimony calls me—and perhaps all of us—to deeper endurance, deeper selflessness, and deeper love.
What is most striking is that Paul chose this life. He wasn’t coerced into it. He embraced it joyfully, for the love of Christ. Like Jesus, who willingly suffered out of love for us, Paul’s life was an offering—freely and wholeheartedly given. He had died to himself. His heart was anchored not in the comforts of this world, but in the glory that lies beyond. His treasure was not in gold or possessions, but in Heaven.
Today’s Gospel reminds us, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21) Paul’s heart belonged fully to Christ. His poverty on earth was truly the wealth of heaven.
Let us pause and ponder:
A. How much am I truly willing to endure for the sake of Christ?
What sacrifices am I making—out of love for God and for His people?
B. Where is my treasure stored?
Are my daily choices—how I spend my time, my energy, my resources—leading me toward heaven or chaining me to earth?
My treasures in heaven are the unseen but eternal things: every quiet act of charity done for God’s sake; every burden borne with love and patience; every offering, prayer, and gift made to build up God’s kingdom. These are the things that moth and rust cannot destroy, and that no thief can steal.
May we, like St. Paul, be strengthened to love more generously, to serve more selflessly, and to invest our life where it truly matters: in God, in love, and in eternity.
Sermon preached by Fr Emmanuel Baraka-Gukena Okami on June 20, 2025