FIRST READING
2 Kings 11:1-4, 9-18, 20
When Athaliah, the mother of Ahaziah, saw that her son was dead, she began to kill off the whole royal family. But Jehosheba, daughter of King Jehoram and sister of Ahaziah, took Joash, his son, and spirited him away, along with his nurse, from the bedroom where the princes were about to be slain. She concealed him from Athaliah, and so he did not die. For six years he remained hidden in the temple of the LORD, while Athaliah ruled the land.
But in the seventh year, Jehoiada summoned the captains of the Carians and of the guards. He had them come to him in the temple of the LORD, exacted from them a sworn commitment, and then showed them the king’s son.
The captains did just as Jehoiada the priest commanded. Each one with his men, both those going on duty for the sabbath and those going off duty that week, came to Jehoiada the priest. He gave the captains King David’s spears and shields, which were in the temple of the LORD. And the guards, with drawn weapons, lined up from the southern to the northern limit of the enclosure, surrounding the altar and the temple on the king’s behalf. Then Jehoiada led out the king’s son and put the crown and the insignia upon him. They proclaimed him king and anointed him, clapping their hands and shouting, “Long live the king!”
Athaliah heard the noise made by the people, and appeared before them in the temple of the LORD. When she saw the king standing by the pillar, as was the custom, and the captains and trumpeters near him, with all the people of the land rejoicing and blowing trumpets, she tore her garments and cried out, “Treason, treason!” Then Jehoiada the priest instructed the captains in command of the force: “Bring her outside through the ranks. If anyone follows her,” he added, “let him die by the sword.” He had given orders that she should not be slain in the temple of the LORD. She was led out forcibly to the horse gate of the royal palace, where she was put to death.
Then Jehoiada made a covenant between the LORD as one party and the king and the people as the other, by which they would be the LORD’s people; and another covenant, between the king and the people. Thereupon all the people of the land went to the temple of Baal and demolished it. They shattered its altars and images completely, and slew Mattan, the priest of Baal, before the altars. Jehoiada appointed a detachment for the temple of the LORD. All the people of the land rejoiced and the city was quiet, now that Athaliah had been slain with the sword at the royal palace.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
Psalm 132:11, 12, 13-14, 17-18
R. (13) The Lord has chosen Zion for his dwelling.
The LORD swore to David a firm promise from which he will not withdraw: “Your own offspring I will set upon your throne.”
R. The Lord has chosen Zion for his dwelling.
“If your sons keep my covenant and the decrees which I shall teach them, Their sons, too, forever shall sit upon your throne.”
R. The Lord has chosen Zion for his dwelling.
For the LORD has chosen Zion; he prefers her for his dwelling. “Zion is my resting place forever; in her will I dwell, for I prefer her.”
R. The Lord has chosen Zion for his dwelling.
“In her will I make a horn to sprout forth for David; I will place a lamp for my anointed. His enemies I will clothe with shame, but upon him my crown shall shine.”
R. The Lord has chosen Zion for his dwelling.
ALLELUIA
Matthew 5:3
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GOSPEL
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.”
REFLECTIONS:
What kind of treasure are you seeking? Jesus offers
a treasure of imcomparable value and worth, but we need healthy eyes
good spiritual vision to recognize it. What Jesus said about seeking
treasure made perfect sense to his audience: keep what lasts! Arent
we all trying to find something we treasure in this life in the hope that
it will bring us happiness, peace, and security? Jesus contrasts two very
different kinds of wealth material wealth and spiritual wealth. Jesus
urges his disciples to get rich by investing in wealth and treasure which
truly lasts, not just for a life-time, but for all eternity as well. Jesus
offers heavenly treasures which cannot lose their value by changing circumstances,
such as diminishing currency, material degradation, lose, or physical destruction.
The treasure which Jesus offers is kept safe and uncorrupted by God himself.
What is this treasure which Jesus offers so freely and graciously? It
is the treasure of God himself the source and giver of every good gift
and blessing in this life and a kingdom that will endure forever. The
treasure of God's kingdom produces unspeakable joy because it unites us
with the source of all joy and blessings which is God himself. God offers
us the treasure of unending joy and friendship with himself and with all
who are united with him in his heavenly kingdom. In Jesus Christ we receive
an inheritance which the Apostle Peter describes as style="font-style: italic;">imperishable,
undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for us (1 Peter 1:4
). Paul the Apostle describes it as a kingdom of everlasting peace, joy,
and righteousness in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17).
How realistic and attainable is this heavenly treasure? Can we enjoy
it now, or must we wait for it in the after-life? The treasure of Gods
kingdom is both a present and a future reality like an investment which
grows and matures, ever increasing, and multiplying in value.
Seekers of great treasure will go to any length to receive their reward.
They direct all their energies and resources to obtain the treasure. We
instinctively direct our energies and resources an even our whole lives
towards that which we most value. To set ones heart on heavenly treasure
is to enter into a deeper and richer life with God himself. It is only
by letting go of false treasure that one can eter into the joy of a heavenly
treasure that is immeasurable and worth more than we can give in exchange.
Do you seek the treasure which lasts for eternity?
Jesus also used the image of eyesight or human vision to convey an important
principle of God's kingdom. Blurred vision and bad eyesight serve as a
metaphor for moral stupidity and spiritual blindness. (For examples, see
Matthew 15:14, 23:16 ff.; John 9:39-41; Romans 2:19; 2 Peter 1:9; and Revelations
3:17.) Jesus describes the human eye as the window of the
inner being the heart, mind, and soul of an individual person. How
one views their life and reality reflects not only their personal vision
how they see themselves and the world around them, it also reflects their
inner being and soul the kind of moral person and character they choose
for themselves. If the window through which we view life, truth, and reality
is clouded, soiled, or marred in any way, then the light of God's truth
will be deflected, diminished, and distorted. Only Jesus Christ can free
us from the spiritual darkness of sin, unbelief, and ignorance. That is
why Jesus called himself the light of the world the one true source of
light that can overcome the darkness of sin and the lies and deception
of Satan.
What can blind or distort our vision of what is true, good, lovely,
pure, and eternal (Philippians 4:8)? Certainly prejudice, jealousy, and
self-conceit can distort our judgment of ourselves and others and lead
to moral blindness. Prejudice and self-conceit also destroys good judgment
and blinds us to the facts and to their significance for us. Jealousy and
envy make us despise others and mistrust them as enemies rather than friends.
We need to fearlessly examine ourselves to see if we are living according
to right judgment and sound principles or if we might be misguided by blind
prejudice or some other conceit. Love is not jealous ...but rejoices
with the truth
(1 Corinthians 13:4-6). Do you live your life in the
light of Gods truth?
Lord Jesus, you have the words of everlasting life. May the light of
your truth free me from the error of sin and deception. Take my heart and
fill it with your love that I may desire you alone as my Treasure and my
All."
No comments:
Post a Comment