Daily Readings - Fri Jun 21 2024
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 powerful narratives that guide us toward a deeper understanding of faith and trust in God. The first reading from 2 Kings 11 recounts the story of Athaliah's usurpation of the throne and the courageous intervention of Jehoiada, the priest, who restores the rightful king, Jehoash, to the throne. This story highlights God's faithfulness and the importance of trusting in His plan, even in the face of adversity. The context is one of political turmoil and spiritual renewal, as the people of Judah are reminded of their covenant with God.
The Gospel from Matthew 6 shifts our focus to Jesus' teachings on treasure and trust. Jesus emphasizes that true security lies not in earthly possessions but in heavenly treasures. He uses the metaphor of the eye as the lamp of the body, warning that our spiritual vision determines the state of our soul. The context here is the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus calls His followers to a life of radical trust in God's providence.
Both readings converge on the theme of trust and focus. In 2 Kings, the people must trust in God's plan to restore the monarchy, while in Matthew, Jesus calls us to trust in God's provision and prioritize spiritual wealth. This teaches us to keep our eyes fixed on God, ensuring that our hearts are not consumed by earthly concerns.
In our daily lives, these readings invite us to reflect on where we place our trust. Are we anchored in God's promises, or are we swayed by the uncertainties of the world? The moral lesson is clear: true security and happiness come from God. Let us strive to keep our focus on spiritual growth and trust in His plan, knowing that our hearts will be filled with light when our gaze is fixed on Him.