21 June/Friday/11th Week in Ordinary Time,

            2Kgs 11,1-4.9-18.20/Psa 132,11.12.13-14.17-18/Matt 6,19-23

 

First Reading 2 Kings 11:1-4,9-18,20 ·

Saved from the massacre, the true king is anointed by the high priest

 

When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah learned that her son was dead, she promptly did away with all those of royal stock. But Jehosheba, daughter of King Jehoram and sister of Ahaziah, secretly took away Jehoash, her brother’s son, from among the sons of the king who were being murdered, and put him with his nurse in the sleeping quarters; in this way she hid him from Athaliah, and he was not put to death. He stayed with her for six years, hidden in the Temple of the Lord, while Athaliah governed the country.

In the seventh year, Jehoiada sent for the commanders of hundreds of the Carians and of the guards, and had them brought to him in the Temple of the Lord. He made a pact with them and, putting them under oath, showed them the king’s son.

The commanders of hundreds did everything as Jehoiada the priest had ordered. They brought their men, those coming off duty on the Sabbath together with those mounting guard on the Sabbath, and came to Jehoiada the priest. The priest equipped the commanders of hundreds with King David’s spears and shields which were in the Temple of the Lord. The guards formed up, each man with his weapon in his hand, from the south corner to the north corner of the Temple, surrounding the altar and the Temple. Then Jehoiada brought out the king’s son, put the crown and armlets on him, and he anointed him king. They clapped their hands and shouted, ‘Long live the king!’

Athaliah, on hearing the shouts of the people made for the Temple of the Lord where the people were. When she saw the king standing there beside the pillar, as the custom was, with the captains and trumpeters at the king’s side, and all the country people rejoicing and sounding trumpets, Athaliah tore her garments and shouted, ‘Treason, treason!’ Then Jehoiada the priest gave the order to the army officers: ‘Take her outside the precincts and put to death anyone who follows her.’ ‘For,’ the priest had reasoned, ‘she must not be put to death in the Temple of the Lord.’ They seized her, and when she had reached the palace through the Entry of the Horses, she was put to death there.

Jehoiada made a covenant between the Lord and king and people, by which the latter undertook to be the people of the Lord; and also between king and people. All the country people then went to the temple of Baal and demolished it; they smashed his altars and his images and killed Mattan, priest of Baal, in front of the altars.

The priest posted sentries to guard the Temple of the Lord. All the country people were delighted, and the city made no move. And they put Athaliah to death in the royal palace.

 

Responsorial Psalm   Psalm 131(132):11-14,17-18

 

The Lord has chosen Zion; he has desired it for his dwelling.

 

The Lord swore an oath to David;

    he will not go back on this word:

‘A son, the fruit of your body,

    will I set upon your throne.

If they keep my covenant in truth

    and my laws that I have taught them,

their sons also shall rule

    on your throne from age to age.’

 

For the Lord has chosen Zion;

    he has desired it for his dwelling:

‘This is my resting-place for ever;

    here have I chosen to live.

 

There David’s stock will flower;

    I will prepare a lamp for my anointed.

I will cover his enemies with shame

    but on him my crown shall shine.’

 

Gospel Acclamation      John 8:12

 

Alleluia, alleluia!

I am the light of the world, says the Lord;

anyone who follows me will have the light of life.

Alleluia!

 

Gospel     Matthew 6:19-23

Store up treasure for yourselves in heaven

 

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Do not store up treasures for yourselves on earth, where moths and woodworms destroy them and thieves can break in and steal. But store up treasures for yourselves in heaven, where neither moth nor woodworms destroy them and thieves cannot break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

‘The lamp of the body is the eye. It follows that if your eye is sound, your whole body will be filled with light. But if your eye is diseased, your whole body will be all darkness. If then, the light inside you is darkness, what darkness that will be!’

 

Reflection

The First Reading is full of royal intrigue and we may ask ourselves what to make of it in terms of a personal reflection. Certainly, we do not have to try to identify the various personalities of the story and their historical background. That should be of interest to biblical historians but our concern for now should be the message that the Lord wants to communicate to us through this reading. The palace intrigue is taking place in the royal family of Israel. Athaliah was a daughter of King Ahab. She married Jehoram a grandson of King Ahab. Their son Ahaziah became king after him but reigned only for one year. On his death, the mother killed all the members of the royal family, at least so she thought. With this, she became the ruler of Israel.

Personal ambition and selfishness were at the basis of the action of Athaliah. In order to reign over Israel, she had to spill innocent blood. This lasted seven years and we wonder why God allowed such a lapse of time before taking action. We can only imagine that probably Joash son of Ahaziah, who was taken into hiding by Jehosheba, was not old enough to take over the reign of Israel. At the appropriate time, with the assistance of the high priest, the rightful king was enthroned and order was re-established in Israel.

Athaliah was interested in earthly power and she did what she could to attain this power but as we observe in the story, she did not reign for long. She was executed outside the Temple at the orders of the high priest who served as the custodian of the legitimate rule in Israel. Indeed, as expressed in the Responsorial Psalm, the action of the high priest showed that the Lord has not forgotten his people. He allowed Athaliah to rule for a time but her reign was not forever.

In the Gospel Reading, Jesus warns us not to store up our treasures on earth. Earthly treasures do not endure because they are material. We need to focus more on spiritual treasures that endure into eternity. When we look for earthly power, we lose sight of God and of his kingdom. By so doing, we risk losing our own lives together with whatever treasures we may have acquired. Jesus invites us to learn to acquire spiritual treasures that are heavenly.

20 June/Thursday/11th Week in Ordinary Time,

            Sir 48,1-14/Psa 97,1-2.3-4.5-6.7/Matt 6,7-15

 

First Reading      Ecclesiasticus 48:1-15

The spirit of Elijah fills Elisha

 

The prophet Elijah arose like a fire,

    his word flaring like a torch.

It was he who brought famine on the people,

    and who decimated them in his zeal.

By the word of the Lord, he shut up the heavens,

    he also, three times, brought down fire.

How glorious you were in your miracles, Elijah!

    Has anyone reason to boast as you have? –

rousing a corpse from death,

    from Sheol by the word of the Most High;

dragging kings down to destruction,

    and high dignitaries from their beds;

hearing reproof on Sinai,

    and decrees of punishment on Horeb;

anointing kings as avengers,

    and prophets to succeed you;

taken up in the whirlwind of fire,

    in a chariot with fiery horses;

designated in the prophecies of doom

    to allay God’s wrath before the fury breaks,

to turn the hearts of fathers towards their children,

    and to restore the tribes of Jacob,

Happy shall they be who see you,

    and those who have fallen asleep in love;

for we too will have life.

Elijah was shrouded in the whirlwind,

    and Elisha was filled with his spirit;

throughout his life no ruler could shake him,

    and no one could subdue him.

No task was too hard for him,

    and even in death his body prophesied.

In his lifetime he performed wonders,

    and in death his works were marvellous.

 

Responsorial Psalm   Psalm 96(97):1-7

 

Rejoice, you just, in the Lord.

 

The Lord is king, let earth rejoice,

    let all the coastlands be glad.

Cloud and darkness are his raiment;

    his throne, justice and right.

 

A fire prepares his path;

    it burns up his foes on every side.

His lightnings light up the world,

    the earth trembles at the sight.

 

The mountains melt like wax

    before the Lord of all the earth.

The skies proclaim his justice;

    all peoples see his glory.

 

Let those who serve idols be ashamed,

    those who boast of their worthless gods.

    All you spirits, worship him.

 

Gospel Acclamation     1 Sam 3:9, John 6:68

 

Alleluia, alleluia!

Speak, Lord, your servant is listening:

you have the message of eternal life.

Alleluia!

 

Gospel            Matthew 6:7-15

How to pray

 

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘In your prayers do not babble as the pagans do, for they think that by using many words they will make themselves heard. Do not be like them; your Father knows what you need before you ask him. So you should pray like this:

‘Our Father in heaven,

may your name be held holy,

your kingdom come,

your will be done,

on earth as in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts, as we have forgiven those who are in debt to us.

And do not put us to the test,

but save us from the evil one.

‘Yes, if you forgive others their failings, your heavenly Father will forgive you yours; but if you do not forgive others, your Father will not forgive your failings either.’

 

Reflection

The First Reading sounds like a tribute in honour of the prophet Elijah. Ben Sirach, the author of the Book of Ecclesiasticus sings the praises of Elijah as we would do of any great person at his funeral. Ben Sirach did not proclaim this tribute at the funeral of Elijah because he was taken up into heaven in a chariot of fire. The words of Ben Sirach summarise for us the person of Elijah. We can say he was a great prophet who left his mark in his society. He was a man of God who proved himself by raising a dead person to life. He also proved that God was with him when he brought powerful kings like King Ahab low to show that power belongs to God and not to human beings.

The tribute to Elijah does not only reveal his personality; it teaches us how we too should live our lives so that we can be a blessing to those who encounter us. We need to live righteous lives and not be afraid of human powers. God is greater and more powerful than all earthly kings so he is the one we should revere. Like Elijah, we should be people of prayer so that God may use us to accomplish his marvellous deeds in the sight of all people.

The way we should pray is what Jesus teaches us in the Gospel Reading today. Our prayers should not be similar to that of the pagans who babble or use many words. They think the multiplicity of words would make God listen to them. Unfortunately, we have to acknowledge that today, it is not only pagans who babble when they pray. Today, we witness a tendency in some Christians to shout and be verbose in their prayers. With the assistance of a public address system, they make their voice heard far beyond the confines of their assembly or church. Some people think we cannot pray silently or such form of prayer is not acceptable to God.

The prayer that Jesus teaches us in the Gospel Reading makes it clear that we should be precise and ask God what we need. We do not need to shout for God to hear us, nor do we have to use many words for God to receive our prayer. May we learn to pray as Jesus taught us in the Gospel Reading today. May we join the Psalmist to rejoice in the Lord who has taught us how to pray.