Friday
of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time
(II Kings 11:1-4.9-18.20; Matthew
6:19-23)
Jesus’ parable in today’s gospel
comparing one’s eye to a lamp is notoriously hard to understand. He seems to say that how one sees reality
determines the soundness of the person.
If someone looks at things greedily, that person is not healthy
inwardly. But if the person realizes that
wealth and power are not as valuable as goodness and truth, then the person
stands in sound health.
Jesus’ lesson is borne out in the first
reading. Athaliah is the daughter of the
wicked Ahab and Jezebel of Israel, and wife of King Jeroram of Judah. When her husband and son are killed, Athaliah
attempts to have all Jeroram’s other children slain so that she can sit on Judah’s
throne. The scheme falters, however,
when prince Joash, Jeroram’s son evidently by another woman, is rescued. Athaliah rules Judah for six years, but she
is slain as Joash is anointed king.
We must be wary of wealth and
power. They are not evil in themselves,
but they can create desire that will cause us to sin. Rather than seek riches and control, we are
wise to pray for wisdom on ourselves and our leaders.
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