Daily Readings - Wed Jun 27 2018
2 Kings
8Then Hilkiah, the high priest, said to Shaphan, the scribe, "I have found the book of the law in the house of the Lord." And Hilkiah gave the volume to Shaphan, and he read it9Also, Shaphan, the scribe, went to the king, and reported to him what he had instructed. And he said: "Your servants have brought together the money which was found in the house of the Lord. And they have given it so that it would be distributed to the workers by the overseers of the works of the temple of the Lord.10Also, Shaphan, the scribe, explained to the king, saying, "Hilkiah, the priest, gave the book to me." And when Shaphan had read it before the king11and the king had heard the words of the book of the law of the Lord, he tore his garments12And he instructed Hilkiah, the priest, and Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, and Achbor, the son of Micaiah, and Shaphan, the scribe, and Asaiah, the servant of the king, saying13"Go and consult the Lord concerning me, and the people, and all of Judah, about the words of this volume which has been found. For the great wrath of the Lord has been kindled against us because our fathers did not listen to the words of this book, so that they would do all that has been written for us.
1And they reported to the king what she had said. And he sent, and all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem were gathered to him2And the king ascended to the temple of the Lord. And with him were all the men of Judah and all who were living in Jerusalem: the priests, and the prophets, and all the people, from the small to the great. And in the hearing of everyone, he read all the words of the book of the covenant, which was found in the house of the Lord3And the king stood upon the step. And he struck a covenant before the Lord, so that they would walk after the Lord, and keep his precepts and testimonies and ceremonies, with all their heart and with all their soul, and so that they would carry out the words of this covenant, which had been written in that book. And the people agreed to the covenant
Matthew
15Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves16You shall know them by their fruits. Can grapes be gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles17So then, every good tree produces good fruit, and the evil tree produces evil fruit18A good tree is not able to produce evil fruit, and an evil tree is not able to produce good fruit19Every tree which does not produce good fruit shall be cut down and cast into the fire20Therefore, by their fruits you will know them
Sermon
The readings today remind us of the importance of staying true to God’s word and being discerning in our faith. In the first reading from 2 Kings, we hear the story of King Josiah, who, upon discovering the book of the law, is moved to tears and repentance. He recognizes the great wrath of the Lord that has fallen upon Israel because the people had neglected the teachings of the book. Josiah takes immediate action, gathering the people and renewing the covenant with God, committing themselves to follow His commandments with all their heart and soul. This passage emphasizes the need for humility, repentance, and a return to God’s word when we realize we have strayed.
In the Gospel, Jesus warns us about false prophets who appear as sheep but are inwardly wolves. He tells us that we will know them by their fruits—good trees bear good fruit, and bad trees bear bad fruit. This teaching calls us to discernment and authenticity in our faith. It is not enough to claim to follow God; our actions must reflect His love and truth. Just as King Josiah acted with urgency to restore the people’s fidelity to God, we too must examine our own lives and ensure that our words and deeds align with the teachings of Christ.
These readings challenge us to live with integrity and authenticity. Let us reflect on our own commitment to God’s word and ask ourselves: Are we bearing fruit that reflects the love and truth of Christ? Do our actions demonstrate a genuine relationship with Him? Let us pray for the grace to remain faithful, to discern what is true, and to live in a way that honors God. May we, like King Josiah, have the courage to turn back to God when we have wandered and to lead others to do the same.