The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today remind us of the ability of our eyes to only see our worldly success and block the radiance of truth, goodness, and love that reflects our desire for true fullness of life.
The reading from the Second Book of Kings describes Athaliah’s reign over Judah when Jehoiada anoints the child Joash and the death of Athaliah.
* [11:2] According to 2 Chr 22:11, Jehosheba was the wife of Jehoiada, the high priest. If this is historical, it would explain her access to the Temple’s residential precincts.
* [11:4] Carians: foreign mercenaries serving as the royal bodyguard. Compare “Cherethites and Pelethites” in 1 Kgs 1:38.
* [11:12] Testimony: that is, the two tablets of the law preserved in the ark in the Temple. Presumably they were placed upon the king during his installation ceremony as a reminder of the law he was to uphold.
* [11:14] By the column: the king’s special place in the Temple court; cf. 23:3; 2 Chr 23:13. People of the land: in this period, the phrase referred to the important citizenry, whose influence sometimes extended to the selection of royal successors (cf. 2 Kgs 11:14–20; 15:5; 16:15; 21:24; 23:6, 30–35; 24:14; 25:3, 19). In postexilic times, by contrast, the phrase was used of the poor.
* [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). (2 Kings, CHAPTER 11 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 132 praises the Eternal Dwelling of God in Zion.
* [Psalm 132] A song for a liturgical ceremony in which the ark, the throne of Israel’s God, was carried in procession to the Temple. The singer asks that David’s care for the proper housing of the ark be regarded with favor (Ps 132:1–5), and tells how it was brought to Jerusalem (Ps 132:6–10). There follows God’s promise of favor to the Davidic dynasty (Ps 132:11–12) and to Zion (Ps 132:13–17). The transfer of the ark to the tent in Jerusalem is described in 2 Sm 6. (Psalms, PSALM 132 | USCCB, n.d.)
In the Sermon on the Mount, in the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus teaches concerning treasures and the Sound Eye.
* [6:19–34] The remaining material of this chapter is taken almost entirely from Q. It deals principally with worldly possessions, and the controlling thought is summed up in Mt 6:24: the disciple can serve only one master and must choose between God and wealth (mammon). See further the note on Lk 16:9.
* [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. (Matthew, CHAPTER 6 | USCCB, n.d.)
Mike Cherney comments that the Psalm reminds one of God’s exceptional relationship with David, his descendants, and Zion. I see it having a special significance following the conflict, scheming, and resolution found in today’s passage from 2 Kings.
The Gospel makes clear the fruitlessness of focusing one’s life on material wealth. Jesus starts with the transitory nature of wealth, but He moves on to recognizing a moral imperative. We are guided by our focus, and the God-focused way that Jesus teaches offers a much more meaningful path.
Dear Lord,
Today’s readings remind me that the appeal of power and wealth has plagued mankind for millennia.
I see how this desire has been and continues to be a cancer on society and governmental systems.
Jesus and Aloysius Gonzaga remind us of where our focus needs to be.
I look at my own life. I see the power and wealth problem in miniature. With age I have become secure and comfortable. I find myself questioning my focus.
I realize that although I contribute substantially more of my financial resources now, I am able to give and remain secure and comfortable, while in the past donations came at the expense of some security.
I look at how I spend my time in my retirement. I still use a fair amount of it in service to my community and to those requiring assistance, but I realize that I still do not do all that I could as I spend time fixing up my home and maintaining a certain level of comfort and pleasure.
Heavenly Father, I ask you to open my heart to Your call. Help me to allocate the resources of my finances and time moving You and Your work on this earth better into my focus. (Cherney, n.d.)
Don Schwager quotes “Seeking the right intention,” by Augustine of Hippo, 430-543 A.D.
"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) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on 2 Kings 11:1-4, 9-18, 20 comments that just as it was to these Israelites, God’s timing is often mysterious to us. It can be a huge test of our faith when we want to see God act in a certain way and he seems to be completely absent.
The people of Judah were being led away from the Lord, but God still had a plan to reestablish the rightful king and bring the people back into right relationship with him. Perhaps right now you can’t see clearly how God’s good plan is unfolding in your life. But God is always with you. He has good things in store for you—even if they’re not exactly what you are looking for.
So don’t lose hope! Stay close to the Lord, and continue to bring your needs before him each day. It may take six weeks, six months, or even six years, but God always shows up for his people. With his help, be patient and trust that he will fulfill all his promises.
“Lord, even when I don’t understand your timing, help me believe that you are good and that you care for me.” (Meditation on 2 Kings 11:1-4, 9-18, 20, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler relates the story of Athaliah, Ahaziah's mother, who kills off all the possible threats to her claiming the throne. As a woman and a person from the north the people of Judah had two reasons to oppose her. The Sermon on the Mount declares we will be disappointed by earthly treasures. Friar Jude reminds us to try and live with a good conscious and and not filled with attempts to build up earthly treasure.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, reflects on Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. who addresses the disappointment faced by individuals and communities when reckoning with unrealized dreams. Inspired by the apostle Paul’s imprisonment, King calls for radical hope and determination.
You must honestly confront your shattered dream. To follow the escapist method of attempting to put the disappointment out of your mind will lead to a psychologically injurious repression. Place your failure at the forefront of your mind and stare daringly at it. Ask yourself, “How may I transform this liability into an asset? How may I, confined in some narrow Roman cell and unable to reach life’s Spain, transmute this dungeon of shame into a haven of redemptive suffering?” Almost anything that happens to us may be woven into the purposes of God. It may lengthen our cords of sympathy. It may break our self-centered pride. The cross, which was willed by wicked men, was woven by God into the tapestry of world redemption. (Rohr, n.d.)
We seek the enlightenment of the Spirit to see the opportunities to bring peace and compassion to the events of our life and to reflect this desire in our eyes with passion and love.
References
Cherney, M. (n.d.). Daily Reflection Of Creighton University's Online Ministries. OnlineMinistries. Retrieved June 21, 2024, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/
Matthew, CHAPTER 6 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved June 21, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/6?19
Meditation on 2 Kings 11:1-4, 9-18, 20. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved June 21, 2024, from https://wau.org/meditations/2024/06/21/1005083/
Psalms, PSALM 132 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved June 21, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/132?11
Rohr, R. (n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved June 21, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/standing-firm-in-all-circumstances/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved June 21, 2024, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=jun21
2 Kings, CHAPTER 11 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved June 21, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/2kings/11?1
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