Daily Readings - Fri Jun 22 2018
2 Kings
1Truly, Athaliah, the mother of Ahaziah, seeing that her son was dead, rose up and put to death all the royal offspring2But Jehosheba, the daughter of king Joram, the sister of Ahaziah, taking Jehoash, the son of Ahaziah, stole him away from the midst of the sons of the king who were being killed, out of the bedroom, with his nurse. And she hid him from the face of Athaliah, so that he would not be killed3And he was with her for six years, hidden in the house of the Lord. But Athaliah reigned over the land4Then, in the seventh year, Jehoiada sent for and took centurions and soldiers, and he brought them to himself in the temple of the Lord. And he formed a pact with them. And taking an oath with them in the house of the Lord, he revealed to them the son of the king9And the centurions acted in accord with all the things that Jehoiada, the priest, had instructed them. And taking each one of their men who would enter on the Sabbath, with those who would depart on the Sabbath, they went to Jehoiada, the priest10And he gave to them the spears and weapons of king David, which were in the house of the Lord11And they stood, each one having his weapons in his hand, before the right side of the temple, all the way to the left side of the altar and of the shrine, surrounding the king12And he led forth the son of the king. And he placed the diadem on him, and the testimony. And they made him king, and they anointed him. And clapping their hands, they said: "The king lives!13Then Athaliah heard the sound of the people running. And entering to the crowd at the temple of the Lord14she saw the king standing upon a tribunal, according to custom, and the singers and trumpets near him, and all the people of the land rejoicing and sounding the trumpets. And she tore her garments, and she cried out: "Conspiracy! Conspiracy!15But Jehoiada gave orders to the centurions who were over the army, and he said to them: "Lead her away, beyond the precinct of the temple. And whoever will have followed her, let him be struck with the sword." For the priest had said, "Do not allow her to be killed in the temple of the Lord.16And they laid hands on her. And they pushed her through the way by which horses enter, beside the palace. And she was killed there17Then Jehoiada formed a covenant between the Lord, and the king and the people, so that they would be the people of the Lord; and between the king and the people18And all the people of the land entered the temple of Baal, and they tore down his altars, and they thoroughly crushed the statues. Also, they killed Mattan, the priest of Baal, before the altar. And the priest placed guards in the house of the Lord20And all the people of the land rejoiced. And the city was quieted. But Athaliah was slain with the sword at the house of the king
Matthew
19Do not choose to store up for yourselves treasures on earth: where rust and moth consume, and where thieves break in and steal20Instead, store up for yourselves treasures in heaven: where neither rust nor moth consumes, and where thieves do not break in and steal21For where your treasure is, there also is your heart22The lamp of your body is your eye. If your eye is wholesome, your entire body will be filled with light23But if your eye has been corrupted, your entire body will be darkened. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great will that darkness be
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful stories that remind us of the enduring struggle between light and darkness, and the call to place our ultimate trust in God. The first reading from 2 Kings tells the story of Athaliah, a queen who sought to destroy the royal lineage to secure her own power. However, her evil plans were thwarted by the courage and faith of Jehosheba, who hid the young king Jehoash and later ensured his rightful place on the throne. This story highlights the triumph of God’s plan over human wickedness and the importance of standing firm in faith even in the face of great adversity.
The Gospel reading from Matthew shifts our focus to the spiritual realm, as Jesus warns us about the dangers of earthly treasures and the corruption that can come from an impure heart. He reminds us that our true treasure should be in heaven, where it cannot be destroyed or stolen. Jesus also uses the metaphor of the eye as the lamp of the body, teaching us that our spiritual vision determines the state of our soul. If our hearts are pure and our intentions are upright, we will be filled with light and guidance. But if our hearts are corrupted by greed, selfishness, or sin, we risk living in spiritual darkness.
These readings invite us to reflect on our own lives and the choices we make. Are we like Athaliah, seeking power and control through worldly means, or are we like Jehosheba, trusting in God’s plan and standing up for what is right? Do we prioritize earthly treasures that fade away, or do we store up treasures in heaven by living a life of love, compassion, and integrity? Let us ask for the grace to see the world through the eyes of faith, to seek God’s will above all else, and to live in the light of His truth. In doing so, we will find true peace and fulfillment, both in this life and in the life to come.