Friday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time
(II Kings 11:1-4.9-18.20; Matthew 6:190-23)
The first reading today is long and impossible to appreciate
without awareness of its context. It forms
an episode in the saga of the kings of Judah and Israel. Athaliah is the daughter of the wicked King Ahab
and Jezebel of Israel. She is also the
wife of King Jehoram of Judah. When her
husband and son are killed, Athaliah attempts to have all Jehoram’s sons by
other mothers slain so that she can rule Judah throne. Her plan is foiled as one of Jehoram’s sons
survives Athaliah’s massacre and comes to rule the nation. The saga demonstrates what Jesus teaches his
disciples with his difficult parable.
“’The lamp of the body is the eye,’” Jesus tells his disciples. He is saying that we look into ourselves with
the same eyes that we see the world. If
we see the world as the locus of growth in truth and goodness, we will find in
ourselves the seeds of virtue to be cultivated.
But if we look at the world primarily as opportunities for more fame,
wealth, or pleasure, we will mostly desire to satisfy our basest needs.
Although Scripture testifies to God’s plan for us, it can be
opaque at times. We need to use the
clearer parts to help us interpret the problematic ones. Its long and rich contents provide material
to ponder and contemplate as we make our way through life. Hopefully, it will guide us to God’s Kingdom.
