Friday – 11th Week in Ordinary Time – A

In today's first reading, we hear about how, after the death of King Ahaziah, his mother Athaliah seized power and attempted to secure her throne by exterminating the entire royal family. However, the infant Joash, a rightful heir of David's line, was secretly rescued by his aunt Jehosheba and hidden in the Temple for six years under the protection of the priest Jehoiada. In the seventh year, Jehoiada revealed Joash to the military leaders and crowned and anointed him king in the Temple. And the people joyfully proclaimed him king. Imagine, my brothers and sisters, a seven-year-old king.

When Athaliah discovered what was happening, she cried, “Treason! Treason!” (2 Kings 11:14). But she was arrested and executed outside the Temple. Jehoiada then renewed the covenant between the Lord, the king, and the people, leading the nation back to true worship. The people destroyed the temple and the idols of Baal that Athaliah had made them worship. They killed Baal's priest and restored proper worship in the Temple of the Lord. And peace and rejoicing returned to the land as the usurper's reign came to an end.

Now why do we have this story given to us after three days of hearing about Elijah and how he dealt with King Ahab and Queen Jezebel? Athaliah is one of the most psychologically complex and spiritually tragic figures in the Old Testament. To understand her actions in the Second Book of Kings, chapter 11, we need to look at her background.

Who was Athaliah?

Athaliah was not simply an evil queen who suddenly became murderous. It's never like that, my brothers and sisters. There's always a background, a build-up. She was the daughter of the infamous royal house of Omri and almost certainly the daughter of the evil Queen Jezebel and King Ahab, who had done more evil in the eyes of the Lord than any other king in Israel. So she grew up in a household characterized by political ambition, the abuse of power, violence against opponents, idolatry and the worship of Baal, manipulation, and intimidation. Her mother Jezebel had prophets killed. She arranged for Naboth's murder, as we've heard in the past days, and she attempted to suppress the worship of the Lord. Athaliah appears to have absorbed much of her mother's worldview.

The Scriptures tell us God has not given us a spirit of fear. Yet when her son Ahaziah dies, Athaliah immediately begins exterminating the royal family out of fear. A normal grandmother would protect her grandchildren. Athaliah seeks to murder them. Why? Because she sees them primarily as threats. Her identity has become completely fused with power. See how power takes the place of God? Sometimes, my brothers and sisters, if left unchecked, the death of Ahaziah creates a crisis. “If one of David's descendants survives, I lose the throne,” thought Athaliah. Her response reveals a person whose greatest fear is losing control.

This is the psychology of tyranny. Everyone becomes a rival. Family becomes expendable, and trust becomes impossible because power has become a god, an addiction. It also reveals a strong sense of insecurity in Athaliah. Strong people do not usually need to eliminate every possible rival. Athaliah's actions reveal profound insecurity. She knows she has no legitimate claim to David's throne. She is not the promised heir. She is effectively an usurper.

In fact, my brothers and sisters, isn't this often the case, that the more illegitimate a ruler feels, the more violently he or she often clings to power? This is why dictators throughout history frequently conduct purges. They purge entire households and people affiliated with the government. Athaliah behaves exactly like that. Her slaughter of the royal family is not a show of strength. It is fear disguised as strength.

One of the most striking things about today's reading and about Athaliah is how much she resembles her mother, Jezebel. Jezebel eliminated opponents, used violence to achieve her goals, and rejected God's covenant. Athaliah eliminates opponents, uses violence to secure power, and promotes the worship of Baal. The Bible often shows how sin becomes a pattern passed through generations. Oh, so important it is to cultivate, first of all, a personal relationship with God, and then to instill that throughout all our family members, to be like Joshua: “Choose this day whom you will serve. As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15).

Children can inherit not only wealth and culture, but also habits of thinking. Athaliah seems to have learned: if something threatens you, destroy it. That lesson ultimately destroyed her.

My brothers and sisters, in today's Gospel Jesus says to us: “Where your treasure is, there also will your heart be” (Matthew 6:21). What was Athaliah's treasure? It certainly was not God. It was not the covenant with God. It was not the people. It was definitely not even her own family. Her treasure was power. And because her treasure was power, her heart followed it.

Notice how Jesus does not say, “Where your heart is, there your treasure will be.” No, He says, “Where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.” It's what we invest ourselves in. Athaliah invested herself completely in maintaining her throne, and as a result, her heart became hardened, suspicious, and violent.

Let's invest in the greatest treasure of all, the treasure that is our Lord Jesus, to whom we will give our entire lives. Because that will affect everything else around us and our worldview.