The first reading describes Queen Athaliah’s efforts to maintain power. The Psalm is a reminder of God’s special connection to David and his decedents. The Gospel is a warning against focusing on earthly treasure.

Today’s Old Testament passage could be the plot of a bad movie. Some background about Athaliah is helpful in understanding the context of this passage. As the daughter of a king of Israel, she was married to Jehoram of Judah to secure an alliance between Israel and Judah. Jehoram comes to power joining his father as a king belonging to the lineage of King David. Jehoram saw that six of his brothers were killed in order to solidify his position. Athaliah and Jehoram did not demonstrate fidelity to Yahweh, instead recognizing the Canaanite fertility god, Baal. At Jehoram’s death their son, became king.

In today’s first reading, we learn the son has been killed. Athaliah embarks on a ruthless campaign to kill all of the potential heirs to the throne. Athaliah becomes the queen and continues the cult of Baal worship. An infant grandchild has managed to escape this purge and is raised in secret. Eventually this child, the rightful heir as a descendant of King David, becomes king, Athaliah is killed, and Yahweh is restored as the God of Judah.

The Psalm reminds one of God’s exceptional relationship with David, his descendants, and Zion. I see it having a special significance following the conflict, scheming, and resolution found in today’s passage from 2 Kings.

The Gospel makes clear the fruitlessness of focusing one’s life on material wealth. Jesus starts with the transitory nature of wealth, but He moves on to recognizing a moral imperative. We are guided by our focus, and the God-focused way that Jesus teaches offers a much more meaningful path. The more familiar expression of this relationship is found in the verse following today’s Gospel passage, “No one can serve two masters. … You cannot serve God and (wealth or property).”

Today is the feast of Saint Aloysius Gonzaga. Reading about his life I was reminded that the Renaissance was not only the time of great art, humanism and learning, but also the time despot rulers of warring city states. Although not contemporaries, both Aloysius Gonzaga and Niccolo Machiavelli were people of the 16th Century. This was another time of political intrigue and the Gonzaga family was not immune. As the oldest son of a Renaissance ruler, Aloysius would have been expected to embark on military career leading to him assuming a position of worldly power. Instead, he chose a life of piety and poverty. He died during his priestly formation serving in a hospital during one of the regional outbreaks of the plague that continued to ravage Europe. My prayer today considers the path that he chose and its relevance for today.

Dear Lord,
Today’s readings remind me that the appeal of power and wealth has plagued mankind for millennia.
I see how this desire has been and continues to be a cancer on society and governmental systems.
Jesus and Aloysius Gonzaga remind us of where our focus needs to be.
I look at my own life. I see the power and wealth problem in miniature. With age I have become secure and comfortable. I find myself questioning my focus.
I realize that although I contribute substantially more of my financial resources now, I am able to give and remain secure and comfortable, while in the past donations came at the expense of some security.
I look at how I spend my time in my retirement. I still use a fair amount of it in service to my community and to those requiring assistance, but I realize that I still do not do all that I could as I spend time fixing up my home and maintaining a certain level of comfort and pleasure.
Heavenly Father, I ask you to open my heart to Your call. Help me to allocate the resources of my finances and time moving You and Your work on this earth better into my focus.