Treasure and darkness in our political history

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to consider our heritage of political conflict and open our eyes to what has true value to serve God and our neighbour.

Heritage of material values

The reading from 2 Kings describes the violent nature of political conflict in the family of Ahab and Jezebel and the nature of the promises made between God, king and people.


* [11:17] There are two covenants. One is between the Lord as one party and the people, headed by the king, as the other. The second covenant, between king and people, is comparable to that made between David and the elders of Israel at Hebron (2 Sm 5:3).

In the Gospel from Matthew, Jesus addresses treasure in our lives and the Light in which we see the world as part of the Sermon on the Mount.

* [6:22–23] In this context the parable probably points to the need for the disciple to be enlightened by Jesus’ teaching on the transitory nature of earthly riches.

Edward Morse prays that God will shape our perceptions and open us to the cues we need for our formation, knowing that nothing is wasted in the economy of the kingdom of heaven if we trust things to God.

Like Athalia, sometimes our perceptions become clouded.  Empty promises of happiness can fool us into taking a path that can only deliver misery. Such are the tactics of our adversary.  But thanks be to God that he can save us from that path! The world may scoff, but Jesus offers the only path that works. Of course, we will also find suffering and difficulty on that path.  God can turn these things into good in forming us and fitting us for His kingdom. The path to perdition delivers suffering and difficulty, too, and no such promise

Don Schwager quotes Augustine of Hippo, 430-543 A.D. on seeking the right intention.

"We know that all our works are pure and pleasing in the sight of God if they are performed with a single heart. This means that they are performed out of charity and with an intention that is fixed on heaven. For 'love is the fulfillment of the law'(Romans 13:10). Therefore in this passage we ought to understand the eye as the intention with which we perform all our actions. If this intention is pure and upright and directing its gaze where it ought to be directed, then unfailingly all our works are good works, because they are performed in accordance with that intention. And by the expression 'whole body,' Christ designated all those works that he reproves and that he commands us to put to death. For the apostle also designates certain works as our 'members.' 'Therefore,' Paul writes, 'mortify your members which are on earth: fornication, uncleanness, covetousness' (Colossians 3:5), and all other such things." (excerpt from SERMON ON THE MOUNT 2.13.45)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Matthew 6:19-23 notes that what we take in through our eyes shapes the focus of our hearts and our actions.

Today, think about the many images that you see in a given day. Then, just for fun, get a piece of paper and a red and a green marker. All morning, pay attention to what you are seeing. If it is an image you should filter out, make a red mark. If it is a good image, make a green mark. Then, during lunch, take stock. Are there too many red marks? What can you do about it? How can you make your eyes as clear as possible? By fixing them on Jesus as often as you can remember to.

Friar Jude Winkler shares the backstory on the daughter of Ahab, Athaliah, a king in hiding and a palace coup. Treasures on earth and material things need to be managed with prudence so that we not fall into selfishness. Friar Jude asserts that the things we look at enter into our consciousness. If everything we see,we see in the Lord, we look for good and find it. If we look for bad we find it too.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, shares the history of injustice in the south west United States and how it connects to how we see the other.

Migration—whether chosen or forced—is a reality we must continue to face. U.S. interference in Central America has led to destabilization and violence. In 1986, the year before the Center for Action and Contemplation officially opened, our governor declared New Mexico the country’s first “State of Sanctuary,” a welcoming place for those fleeing civil wars in Central America. Albuquerque’s mayor, Tim Keller, recently affirmed that we are an “Immigrant Friendly” city, limiting city resources in the enforcement of federal immigration laws.

Political power achieved by manipulation and images designed to show the other in negative terms are ancient strategies that are in conflict with the vision of people filled with the light of Christ.

References

(n.d.). 2 Kings, chapter 11 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved June 22, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/2kings/11

(n.d.). Matthew, chapter 6 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved June 22, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/matthew6:48

(2018, June 5). The Good Eye, The Evil Eye – Matthew 6:22-23. Retrieved June 22, 2018, from http://podcast.stuffyoumissed.com/e/the-good-eye-the-evil-eye-%E2%80%93-matthew-622-23/

(n.d.). Creighton U Daily Reflections .... Retrieved June 22, 2018, from http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html

(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved June 22, 2018, from http://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/

(n.d.). Saint Aloysius Gonzaga, Religious (Memorial) - Mass Readings and .... Retrieved June 22, 2018, from https://wau.org/meditations/

(n.d.). Daily Meditations Archives - Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved June 22, 2018, from https://cac.org/category/daily-meditations/