Thursday, June 21, 2018

11th Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 22-06-18

2 Kings 11:1-4, 9-18, 20 / Matthew 6:19-23

For those of us who have the faculty of sight, our eyes look at many things and our mind process the information and then we come to an opinion or decision about what we see.

So when we see things that we desire or that are to our advantage or gain, then we will decide to take possession of it, regardless of whether it is a moral decision or not.

In the 1st reading, when Althaliah learnt that her son Ahaziah, who was king, was killed, she saw that her security was at stake, and she promptly killed all those of royal stock so that she could take possession of the power to govern the country.

Certainly that was a cruel and wicked thing to do, but for Althaliah, all she could think of was to get to power by all and any means, so that she could be secure.

That was her way of building up her treasures on earth, and she was determined to do it even with the shedding of innocent blood.

That was all she could see, and that was all she desired. But as it is said, whoever sheds blood will have their blood shed in the end. That was also the tragic end of Althaliah.

We may not desire for power nor would we shed blood for it. But Jesus is also asking us in the gospel what is our treasure because where our treasure is, there will our hearts be also.

And Jesus also reminds us to be careful about what we are looking at. If we are looking at and desiring the things of earth where moths and woodworms can destroy and thieves can steal, then we have to look again carefully.

If what we are looking at and desiring for is causing a darkness in our hearts, then we need to ask Jesus to turn our eyes to the light and to the things of above.

After all, there is no joy in have power and possessions but living in the dark. What we really want is to live in the light and to have the peace that only our Lord Jesus can give, not just here and now, but also for eternity.