Jesus instructs men to seek Heaven and maintain custody of the eyes. Every Catholic man can grow in happiness by building the Virtue of Meekness so he can reject wrath and approach the world in love and by growing in the Virtue of Diligence so he can prepare his family for the Judgment.
Liturgy
11th Week in Ordinary Time – Friday – Mt 6:19-23
Commentary
Confirming men’s dependence on God and the desperate need for all men to be “delivered from the Evil One” in The Lord’s Prayer, Jesus continues His Sermon on the Mount, giving men the concrete call to live out their exclusive faith in God through praying The Lord’s Prayer.
Jesus rebukes those who put their hope and effort into acquiring material treasures, exposing the foolishness of grasping for things that decay and can be stolen. He directs men to put their exclusive hope in the Father, urging men to put their whole heart into working for the eternal happiness of the unchanging treasure of Heaven. It is through a man’s spiritual diligence in which he prays and does God’s Will while on earth that he “stores up treasures in Heaven”; ultimately, a man’s Judgment at the hour of his death will be of the spiritual treasures of faith and good works he has accumulated during his life.
Jesus uses an allegory about the eyes to reinforce His teaching to reject the world and commit to Heaven. The “sound” eye is ultimately focused on Heaven, full of the light of Jesus, guides a man to gaze upon others with charity and to put material things to generous and loving use. In contrast, men with a “bad” eye (or, evil eye), view others with envy, lust, greed and hatred and seek the treasures of the world, living in the darkness of selfishness and evil. Jesus concludes that if men fail to have the light of God in them, their darkness and sin is complete, an ominous warning of the eternal darkness and suffering of Hell.
Be awed by Jesus Christ
Be encouraged by Jesus as He reveals truths about the spiritual life: Jesus, the perfection of Holiness, is the only Authoritative guide to the path to Heaven; Person of the Trinity, Jesus has first-hand experience of how God the Father considers the merits (treasures in Heaven, goodness of how a man sees) and demerits (attachment to the world, seeing through evil/dark eyes) of men’s thoughts and behaviors and their fitness for Heaven; Jesus, the perfect demonstration of Hope (though Jesus neither has, nor needs Hope, for He is one with the Father), gives men hope that Heaven exists and their good works will be rewarded.
Reject wrath and grow in Meekness
Realize: The Deadly Vice of Wrath (anger) flares when men look at others with darkened eyes, eyes that arrogantly demean and judge others, unjustly with bias and prejudice; unjust wrath shows up in degrees from annoyance, impatience, vicious thoughts and words, and violent actions.
Believe: Reflect upon the Virtue of Meekness (CCC 716, 1716, 2219, 2262).
Pray: Jesus, Perfection of Meekness, help me build the Virtue of Meekness (a part of Temperance) so I am freed from the Vice of Wrath, am filled with gentleness and patience, and I can face difficult situations and people with calmness, deference, patience, and gentleness, always in the service to Your Will.
Prepare your family for the Judgment
Realize: While most Catholic men work hard to give their family good things (treasures of the world), many fail to understand their ultimate accountability is to lead their wives, children, and many others to the eternal treasures of Heaven.
Believe: Reflect upon the Duties of Catholic Fathers (CCC 5, 1653, 1656, 2221-2231, 2688).
Pray: Almighty Father, help me build the Virtue of Diligence (a part of Temperance) so I always give my best effort to draw my family closer to You and Your Holy Catholic Church and prepare them to meet Your Son in the Judgment.