Matthew 6:19-23

2 Kings 11:1-4, 9-18, 20

Psalm 132:11, 12, 13-14, 17-18

Matthew 6:19-23

Jesus said to his disciples:

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth,

where moth and decay destroy, and thieves break in and steal.

But store up treasures in heaven,

where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal.

For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.

“The lamp of the body is the eye.

If your eye is sound, your whole body will be filled with light;

but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be in darkness.

And if the light in you is darkness, how great will the darkness be.”

Opening Prayer: Lord God, the things of this passing world often vie for my attention. I know that they cannot ultimately satisfy me or bring me ultimate happiness. You alone satisfy. Love alone will last for eternity. May I love you above all things and with all my heart, mind, soul, and strength.

Encountering the Word of God

1. Athaliah, the Usurper Queen: During the past few days, we have read about the prophet Elijah in the northern kingdom of Israel and how he led the efforts to combat paganism and the worship of Baal. Today, we read about the southern kingdom of Judah, the reigns of Queen Athaliah (842-837) and King Joash (837-796), and how the priest Jehoiada led the efforts against paganism and the worship of Baal. Our First Reading tells the story of the rise and fall of Athaliah, the usurper queen. Athaliah’s son, Ahaziah (the King of Judah), was killed by archers by order of Jehu, the King of Israel. Athaliah flew into a rage and began killing the members of the royal family of Judah. She wanted to exterminate the house of David. She almost succeeded, but thanks to Jehosheba, Joash (Athaliah's grandson) was taken away and hid in the temple for six years. On the one hand, Jehosheba's actions parallel those of Jochebed and Miriam who saved the baby Moses from the wrath of pharaoh. On the other, the story prefigures the wrath of King Herod who tried to kill Jesus, of the house of David. Not only did Queen Athaliah try to exterminate David’s house and line, but she also introduced the worship of the pagan god Baal into the Jerusalem temple.

2. Joash the King and Jehoiada the Priest: When six years had passed, in the seventh year, the priest Jehoiada prepared to show Joash to the people. After proclaiming Joash king, crowning him, and anointing him, Jehoiada commands that Queen Athaliah be put to death outside the temple of the Lord. Jehoiada then made a covenant between the Lord, the king, and the people. Led by King Joash and the priest Jehoiada, the people destroyed the altars and images of Baal throughout the land of Judah. Joash reigned for forty years in Jerusalem and he did what was right because Jehoiada the priest instructed and guided him. Nevertheless, although the altars and images of Baal were destroyed, the high places were not taken away and the people of Judah continued to sacrifice and burn incense on the high places. In response, King Joash began to collect money to repair the Temple, the house of the Lord. After the death of Jehoiada the priest, however, the princes of Judah came before the king and convinced him to forsake the house of the Lord and serve other gods and idols. In response, the Lord God sent prophets to Judah and Jerusalem to bring the people back to him. These prophets testified against the people, but the people would not give heed (2 Chronicles 24:17-20). Today’s psalm recalls the covenant made with David. God promised him that if his sons (his descendants) keep his covenant, their sons will forever sit upon his throne. “The covenant with David is a divine gift or ‘grant’: God binds himself by divine oath, swearing unwavering fidelity and promising unconditional blessings and everlasting kingship to David and his offspring. This covenant of grant seems to reward David’s single-minded dedication to restoring Israel as a priestly kingdom and building a house for the ark of the covenant” (Hahn, The Kingdom of God as Liturgical Empire, 70-71). The life of King Joash exemplifies the two teachings in today’s Gospel. Under the guidance of Jehoiada, Joash’s heart is in the right place and he sees clearly. He works to eliminate pagan worship and restore God’s Temple. Towards the end of his life, however, he allows himself to be swayed by the princes of Judah and permits the worship of idols. His heart was turned from God and reigned over the Kingdom of Judah in darkness. He became spiritually blind.

3. Store Up Treasure in Heaven: Up to this point, Jesus's Sermon on the Mount has dealt with the paths to true beatitude (5:3-12), the mission of his disciples (5:13-16), and the fulfillment of the law (5:17-48), and has given indications about almsgiving, prayer, and fasting in secret (6:1-18). Now, in the next section of his sermon, Jesus teaches his disciples how they should use their material possessions in this world and trust in divine providence (6:19-34). What matters ultimately is not earthly treasure, but heavenly treasure. Earthly treasures pass away and we can’t take them with us when we die. We can store up heavenly treasure, that lasts forever, through righteous deeds, done not out of vanity or for show, but out of love. Almsgiving, prayer, and fasting are done not to be seen by others, but for God alone. The difference between building up earthly treasure and building up heavenly treasure is paralleled by the difference between spiritual blindness (darkness) and walking by the light of Christ. “Christ's teaching here shows that the way one approaches wealth affects the entire self. The sound, generous eye illumines like a lamp; the selfish, greedy evil eye leaves a person in darkness” (Mitch and Sri, The Gospel of Matthew, 109).

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, you are my treasure. There is nothing more that I want. With you, all is right and bathed in divine light. Without you, chaos and darkness reign. I choose you and your Kingdom today.

Living the Word of God: Are we blinded by wealth and the pursuit of things that do not last? Or do we seek to be poor in spirit and trustworthy administrators of the gifts and talents we have received from God? Are there any “idols” I keep hidden in my life, but secretly worship? Have I allowed God to reign fully in my heart or are there some places where I deny God entry? What is it that keeps me from the light of Christ? We pray, then, that God enlighten our hearts so that we may see this world as it really is. We pray that the idols of earthly wealth, power, and pleasure gain no foothold in our hearts. We ask God today to keep us on the narrow path that leads to eternal life. “There is one thing I ask of the Lord, only this do I seek: to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life” (Psalm 27(26):4).