Today's first reading describes the influence of one of the Jewish priests, Jehoiada, who reestablished the royal line by helping Joash become king of Judah. After the death of Ahaziah at the hands of people in the northern kingdom, the king's mother Athaliah tries to blot out the entire royal line. However, young Joash is hidden away from her. Seven years later, the priest Jehoiada summons tribal leaders to stand against Queen Athaliah and install Joash on the throne. After this, Jehoiada insists on proper worship, working to eradicate the kingdom of idol worshipers.
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Reading the Bible in Its Entirety
The second selection tells the story of King Uzziah, who begins his reign as a faithful king but who believes that success is his alone. In a fit of royal ego, Uzziah enters the Temple and attempts to make his own sacrifice to God, instead of allowing the priests to make the sacrifice. For presuming that a king could also be a priest, Uzziah was swiftly punished, struck down at that moment with leprosy. Ironically, this meant that Uzziah could never enter the Temple again (because all lepers were ritually unclean) so he went into virtual exile until his death.
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If you are planning to read the Bible in its entirety, you should read 2 Chronicles 15-21 today.
