SPEAKER_00: There's a tragedy in today's first reading that's easy to miss.
SPEAKER_00: Joash begins well.
SPEAKER_00: In fact, he begins very well.
SPEAKER_00: As a child, his life is saved by the courage of others.
SPEAKER_00: He is protected in the temple.
SPEAKER_00: He's guided by the priest.
SPEAKER_00: He's placed upon the throne and he restores proper worship.
SPEAKER_00: For a time he appears to be a faithful king.
SPEAKER_00: But then Jehohida dies, and everything changes.
SPEAKER_00: The prince of Judah comes to him.
SPEAKER_00: They flatter him, they influence him, they lead him away from the Lord.
SPEAKER_00: And the man who once stood for God gradually abandons God.
SPEAKER_00: What happened?
SPEAKER_00: Well, the answer is found in today's gospel.
SPEAKER_00: Jesus says no one can serve two masters.
SPEAKER_00: Notice he doesn't say it's difficult.
SPEAKER_00: He says it's impossible.
SPEAKER_00: Not difficult, impossible.
SPEAKER_00: Every human heart eventually chooses a master.
SPEAKER_00: Everyone serves something.
SPEAKER_00: Some serve God, others serve money, others serve power, approval, comfort, others serve themselves.
SPEAKER_00: But everyone serves something.
SPEAKER_00: The tragedy of Joash is that he appeared to be serving God while Johada was alive.
SPEAKER_00: But after Jehoidah died, it became clear that his deepest loyalty was somewhere else.
SPEAKER_00: His faith was not rooted deeply enough.
SPEAKER_00: It was dependent upon another person's influence.
SPEAKER_00: And the moment that influence disappeared, he drifted.
SPEAKER_00: There's a lesson there for us.
SPEAKER_00: At some point in life, borrowed faith is not enough.
SPEAKER_00: You cannot live forever on your parents' faith.
SPEAKER_00: Can't live forever on your spouse's faith, on your pastor's faith.
SPEAKER_00: You can't live forever on the faith of a friend, a mentor, or even a spiritual director.
SPEAKER_00: Eventually the question becomes, is God truly your God?
SPEAKER_00: Not your family's God, not your community's God, not your pastor's God, your God.
SPEAKER_00: Because there comes a moment when every disciple must stand on his own feet before the Lord.
SPEAKER_00: That's what Joash failed to do.
SPEAKER_00: And notice how quickly compromise follows.
SPEAKER_00: First comes a small accommodation, then a little compromise, then idolatry, then the rejection of God's prophets, and then the murder of Zechariah.
SPEAKER_00: The same king who had been saved in the temple eventually sheds innocent blood in the temple.
SPEAKER_00: That's how sin works.
SPEAKER_00: Nobody wakes up one morning and decides to destroy their spiritual life.
SPEAKER_00: It happens one compromise at a time, one neglected prayer at a time, one rationalization at a time, one act of disobedience at a time.
SPEAKER_00: Stepping away from God eventually becomes a thousand steps away from God.
SPEAKER_00: That is why Jesus' words in the gospel are so important.
SPEAKER_00: Seek first the kingdom of God.
SPEAKER_00: Not second, not after everything else, not when there is time left over first.
SPEAKER_00: Because whatever is first in your life eventually shapes everything else.
SPEAKER_00: Because you see, if God is first, money finds its proper place.
SPEAKER_00: If God is first, success finds its proper place.
SPEAKER_00: If God is first, relationships find their proper place.
SPEAKER_00: If God is first, suffering finds its proper place.
SPEAKER_00: But if God is not first, everything else becomes disordered.
SPEAKER_00: And that brings us to the second half of the gospel.
SPEAKER_00: Jesus speaks about worry.
SPEAKER_00: Most people think there are two separate teachings.
SPEAKER_00: First serving God, then worrying.
SPEAKER_00: But they're actually connected.
SPEAKER_00: Why do we worry?
SPEAKER_00: Well, because we're afraid we're not in control.
SPEAKER_00: There's that word again.
SPEAKER_00: Why do we become anxious?
SPEAKER_00: Well, because we're trying to secure the future ourselves, control the narrative.
SPEAKER_00: Why do we obsess over tomorrow?
SPEAKER_00: Well, because we've forgotten who holds tomorrow.
SPEAKER_00: At its deepest level, worry is often a trust problem.
SPEAKER_00: Jesus is not saying that Christians should be irresponsible.
SPEAKER_00: He's not saying bills do not exist.
SPEAKER_00: He's not saying problems are imaginary.
SPEAKER_00: He's saying that anxiety should never become our master.
SPEAKER_00: Because if God is truly Father, then we are not alone.
SPEAKER_00: Look at the birds, look at the flowers, at creation.
SPEAKER_00: Everything in creation depends upon God.
SPEAKER_00: And yet somehow we think we are the one exception.
SPEAKER_00: We believe God can govern the universe, but may not be so able to handle our situation.
SPEAKER_00: To that Jesus says, O you of little faith, not as a condemnation, as an invitation.
SPEAKER_00: Trust me, trust my Father, trust that you are not forgotten, trust that your life is not an accident, trust that your future is in his hands.
SPEAKER_00: I think that's the greatest contrast between Joash and the saints.
SPEAKER_00: Joash gradually trusted God less and trusted himself more.
SPEAKER_00: The saints trusted themselves less and God more.
SPEAKER_00: Joash sought security apart from God.
SPEAKER_00: The saints all sought God and found security in him.
SPEAKER_00: Joash lost everything because God ceased to be first.
SPEAKER_00: The saints have gained everything because God remained first always.
SPEAKER_00: So perhaps a question for us this Saturday is simple.
SPEAKER_00: What is truly first in your life?
SPEAKER_00: Because whatever sits on the throne of your heart is your master.
SPEAKER_00: And Jesus remains there only one thing among the many.
SPEAKER_00: But he reminds us seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you.
SPEAKER_00: That's not merely good advice.
SPEAKER_00: That's the secret of every saint.
SPEAKER_00: That's how we're called to live.
SPEAKER_00: Amen.