Reflection Date: June 19, 2026 | Friday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time
Memorial of Saint Romuald, Abbot
Daily Readings: 2 Kings 11:1-4, 9-18, 20; Matthew 6:19-23
Children of God:
One fascinating thing about medieval cathedrals was that many of them took centuries to complete.
The people who began building them often knew they would never live long enough to see the finished structure.
Yet they continued working faithfully because they believed they were building something greater than themselves.
The famous Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris began construction in 1163 and took almost two hundred years before it was completed.
Cologne Cathedral in Germany started in 1248 but was only fully completed in the nineteenth century.
Generations of workers, stonecutters, artists, and believers dedicated their lives to projects whose completion they would never personally enjoy.
Fathers passed their skills to sons, and communities continued the mission across centuries.
These cathedrals were not merely buildings but expressions of faith directed toward eternity.
Medieval Christians believed that some works were worth sacrificing for even without immediate reward.
They invested not only money but also hope, patience, and devotion.
In a world obsessed with instant results, these unfinished cathedrals continue teaching humanity about lasting vision.
In the gospel story of Matthew, Jesus warned His disciples not to store treasures only on earth where moth and decay destroy them.
He invited them instead to store treasures in heaven where nothing perishes.
The Lord also spoke about the eyes as the lamp of the body, reminding people that what they focus on shapes their entire life.
Jesus challenged His listeners to look beyond temporary possessions and seek eternal values.
What then are our inspirations for today?
First, lasting treasures are built with patience and faith.
Jesus said, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and decay destroy” (Matthew 6:19).
The Lord understood how easily people become attached to temporary things.
Wealth, status, popularity, and possessions may disappear unexpectedly.
Many people spend their whole lives chasing success only to realize later that earthly achievements alone cannot satisfy the soul.
In the same way, parents who raise children with love, teachers who shape young minds, priests who serve quietly, and ordinary workers who live honestly are building treasures that endure far beyond material success.
Faith invites us to think beyond immediate gratification.
A kind word, an act of mercy, a hidden sacrifice, or faithful prayer may seem small today, but they carry eternal value before God.
The gospel reminded us that heaven remembers what the world easily forgets.
The treasures that matter most are often invisible to human eyes.
Lasting treasures are built with patience and faith.
Second, what fills our eyes eventually fills our hearts.
Jesus said, “The lamp of the body is the eye” (Matthew 6:22).
The Lord used this image to explain that our focus influences our entire life.
When people constantly fix their attention on greed, envy, lust, or selfish ambition, darkness slowly enters the heart.
But when people focus on goodness, truth, compassion, and God, light grows within them.
Modern life constantly competes for our attention.
Social media, advertisements, endless comparisons, and worldly pressures shape the desires of many people.
Sometimes we begin measuring our worth based on possessions or popularity.
The gospel challenged us to guard our vision carefully because what we admire eventually influences who we become.
What fills our eyes eventually fills our hearts.
As we reflect today, what treasures am I truly investing my life in?
What constantly occupies my mind and shapes my desires? Am I building something meaningful that will continue blessing others even after I am gone?
Children of God:
The gospel today reminded us that earthly things eventually fade away.
Wealth can disappear, fame can be forgotten, and possessions can decay.
Yet love, faith, mercy, and goodness remain valuable forever before God.
In the same way, our hidden acts of faithfulness also matter deeply.
Listen to Jesus: focus not only on temporary success but on eternal treasures.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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