Homily | June 20, 2026 | Joash And The Slow Drift | (Episode 167)

There's a tragedy in today's first reading that's easy to miss.

Joash begins well.

In fact, he begins very well.

As a child, his life is saved by the courage of others.

He is protected in the temple.

He's guided by the priest.

He's placed upon the throne and he restores proper worship.

For a time he appears to be a faithful king.

But then Jehohida dies, and everything changes.

The prince of Judah comes to him.

They flatter him, they influence him, they lead him away from the Lord.

And the man who once stood for God gradually abandons God.

What happened?

Well, the answer is found in today's gospel.

Jesus says no one can serve two masters.

Notice he doesn't say it's difficult.

He says it's impossible.

Not difficult, impossible.

Every human heart eventually chooses a master.

Everyone serves something.

Some serve God, others serve money, others serve power, approval, comfort, others serve themselves.

But everyone serves something.

The tragedy of Joash is that he appeared to be serving God while Johada was alive.

But after Jehoidah died, it became clear that his deepest loyalty was somewhere else.

His faith was not rooted deeply enough.

It was dependent upon another person's influence.

And the moment that influence disappeared, he drifted.

There's a lesson there for us.

At some point in life, borrowed faith is not enough.

You cannot live forever on your parents' faith.

Can't live forever on your spouse's faith, on your pastor's faith.

You can't live forever on the faith of a friend, a mentor, or even a spiritual director.

Eventually the question becomes, is God truly your God?

Not your family's God, not your community's God, not your pastor's God, your God.

Because there comes a moment when every disciple must stand on his own feet before the Lord.

That's what Joash failed to do.

And notice how quickly compromise follows.

First comes a small accommodation, then a little compromise, then idolatry, then the rejection of God's prophets, and then the murder of Zechariah.

The same king who had been saved in the temple eventually sheds innocent blood in the temple.

That's how sin works.

Nobody wakes up one morning and decides to destroy their spiritual life.

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.

Stepping away from God eventually becomes a thousand steps away from God.

That is why Jesus' words in the gospel are so important.

Seek first the kingdom of God.

Not second, not after everything else, not when there is time left over first.

Because whatever is first in your life eventually shapes everything else.

Because you see, if God is first, money finds its proper place.

If God is first, success finds its proper place.

If God is first, relationships find their proper place.

If God is first, suffering finds its proper place.

But if God is not first, everything else becomes disordered.

And that brings us to the second half of the gospel.

Jesus speaks about worry.

Most people think there are two separate teachings.

First serving God, then worrying.

But they're actually connected.

Why do we worry?

Well, because we're afraid we're not in control.

There's that word again.

Why do we become anxious?

Well, because we're trying to secure the future ourselves, control the narrative.

Why do we obsess over tomorrow?

Well, because we've forgotten who holds tomorrow.

At its deepest level, worry is often a trust problem.

Jesus is not saying that Christians should be irresponsible.

He's not saying bills do not exist.

He's not saying problems are imaginary.

He's saying that anxiety should never become our master.

Because if God is truly Father, then we are not alone.

Look at the birds, look at the flowers, at creation.

Everything in creation depends upon God.

And yet somehow we think we are the one exception.

We believe God can govern the universe, but may not be so able to handle our situation.

To that Jesus says, O you of little faith, not as a condemnation, as an invitation.

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.

I think that's the greatest contrast between Joash and the saints.

Joash gradually trusted God less and trusted himself more.

The saints trusted themselves less and God more.

Joash sought security apart from God.

The saints all sought God and found security in him.

Joash lost everything because God ceased to be first.

The saints have gained everything because God remained first always.

So perhaps a question for us this Saturday is simple.

What is truly first in your life?

Because whatever sits on the throne of your heart is your master.

And Jesus remains there only one thing among the many.

But he reminds us seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you.

That's not merely good advice.

That's the secret of every saint.

That's how we're called to live.

Amen.