Jesus tells us to store up our treasures in heaven and, for the most part, this makes sense to us. After all, when we focus on heaven and follow Jesus Christ we know that infinite goodness awaits us. His kingdom is the true and everlasting kingdom full of his all-consuming love. It so pains my heart to witness individuals seeking treasures anywhere else and I am sure it pains yours as well.
We see in today’s readings the penetrating pain experienced when humanity fails to follow the one true God and instead follows the gods of the world. Athaliah, daughter of Jezebel and King Ahab (or, depending on the interpretation of scripture followed, Ahab’s father King Omri), was born into a family with a long list of murderous and wicked kings and queens who worshipped Baal and other pagan deities, killed God’s priests, prophets and godly men, and suppressed God’s people. King Ahab, did more evil in God’s eyes than any other king before him and her mother Jezebel is considered one of the evilest women in all of history. Even Jehoram, her husband, became a king as a result of King Solomon’s disobedience. In a nut shell – she came from a long lineage who sought to store their treasures in earth – treasures of power, greed, control and pride, and in doing so they not only removed themselves from God’s favor, they placed themselves under his wrath.
Unfortunately, Athaliah chose evil over good in her life just as the generations that came before her did. She also chose to pass this evil on to her son, Ahaziah, as she counseled him in her evil ways throughout his life and during the year he ruled Jerusalem up until his death. And most horrifically, out of her desire to become queen she murdered her children, grandchildren, and step children after Ahaziah’s death as a means of securing the throne for herself! She was indeed a very wicked woman.
How tragic, as the result of Athaliah’s sins, her parent’s sins, the sins of the generations that came before her including, yes, Solomon himself, the most precious God given gift a woman can give her family was not something Athaliah could offer – the gift of a nurturing and comforting wife and mother. The gifts of nurture and comfort are gifts God desires for his children to receive, something he knows we need and something that can only be found when we unite our hearts with the heart of with God. God has chosen to flow these gifts beautifully through women. Of course, this is not to say that a man can’t offer comfort and nurture; however, women are uniquely suited to provide this to their families just as a man is uniquely suited to protect and provide for his family. A brief reflection on the nurture and comfort our Blessed Mother offered her son, Joseph, and now offers the world, and we are reminded of the value of feminine nurture and comfort.
As a result of turning away from God, Athaliah’s clan suffered from walled off hearts. Their hearts experienced suffering and pain that resulted from sin – profound sin I might add. Perhaps this pain could have been made bearable if only motherly love would have been allowed to comfort and soothe the broken hearts. But alas, this was not the case, the generational sin was too deep and too profound. God stepped in. The slippery slope of sin had lead this family into the abys of desire for worldly treasures and there was no turning back or saving them. The deal was sealed, their hearts became hearts of stone and God wasn’t having any more of it so he put an end to their lineage.
This leads us to Jesus’ words – “store up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.” Just look at the beauty there! The destroyer, the evil one himself, has no power over us when we store our treasures in heaven. Remember, Jesus came so that we can fully live and the thief has no power over him. Yet, we must actively choose Christ.
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” John 10:10
So what are these treasures we are to store up in heaven. I believe the greatest treasure we possess is our ability to love another deep within our hearts. You know, really love another and meet our fellow brothers and sisters in their deepest need. Do they need your gentle presence and listening ear? Do they need kindness, understanding? Do they need to eat, or do they need to be taught how to fish? We can only love our brothers and sisters like this when we love God above all else, when we invite the Trinity to dwell within our hearts so that our hearts overflow with love and Godly wisdom.
When God dwells within our hearts our eyes see our brothers and sisters in a new light because we become illuminated from within. We see them with eyes of love, compassion and hope. And this is our measure my friends. What do your eyes see when you look at another? Do you see love, or do you see something else? Let’s make it our goal to love one another 100% of the time. Once this happens then our heart will be fully united with the heart of God.
I have a prayer I pray every morning in an attempt to help my heart love more. I’ll share the prayer with you here and I hope you enjoy it. I invite you to join me.
Dear Holy Spirit. Please come into my heart and mind today. Make them a pleasing space for you to dwell within. Heal this space, rearrange it so that it is yours and yours alone and so that you find delight there. Thank you, I love you – your daughter Carolyn.
Sacred Heart of Jesus have mercy on us.
Today’s Readings: 2 Kings 11:1-4, 9-18, 20; Psalm 132; Matthew 6:19-23
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