Daily Readings - Fri Jun 26 2020
2 Kings
1Then it happened that, in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, on the tenth day of the month, Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, he and his entire army, arrived against Jerusalem. And they encircled it, and they constructed fortifications all around it2And the city was enclosed and besieged, even until the eleventh year of king Zedekiah3on the ninth day of the month. And a famine prevailed in the city; neither was there bread for the people of the land4And the city was breached. And all the men of war fled in the night along the way of the gate which is between the double wall at the garden of the king. Now the Chaldeans were besieging the city on all sides. And so Zedekiah fled along the way which leads to the plains of the wilderness5And the army of the Chaldeans pursued the king, and they overtook him in the plains of Jericho. And all the warriors who were with him were dispersed, and they abandoned him6Therefore, having apprehended him, they led the king to the king of Babylon at Riblah. And he was speaking with him in judgment7Then he killed the sons of Zedekiah before him, and he dug out his eyes, and he bound him with chains, and he led him away to Babylon8In the fifth month, on the seventh day of the month, the same is the nineteenth year of the king of Babylon, Nebuzaradan, the leader of the army, a servant of the king of Babylon, went into Jerusalem9And he set fire to the house of the Lord, and to the house of the king. And the houses of Jerusalem, and every great house, he burned with fire10And the entire army of the Chaldeans, which was with the leader of the military, tore down the walls of Jerusalem all around11Then Nebuzaradan, the leader of the military, carried away the rest of the people, who had remained in the city, and the fugitives, who had fled over to the king of Babylon, and the remnant of the common people12But he left behind some vinedressers and farmers from the poor of the land
Matthew
1And when he had descended from the mountain, great crowds followed him2And behold, a leper, drawing near, adored him, saying, "Lord, if you are willing, you are able to cleanse me.3And Jesus, extending his hand, touched him, saying: "I am willing. Be cleansed." And immediately his leprosy was cleansed4And Jesus said to him: "See to it that you tell no one. But go, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses instructed, as a testimony for them.
Sermon
In today's readings, we journey through two profound narratives that invite us to reflect on the human condition and God's redemptive love. The first reading from 2 Kings recounts the fall of Jerusalem, a somber reminder of the consequences of turning away from God. The destruction of the Temple and the exile of the people underscore the gravity of sin and the importance of remaining faithful. This historical event serves as a cautionary tale, urging us to examine our own relationship with God and the societal structures that can lead to such downfall.
The Gospel reading from Matthew offers a stark contrast with the story of Jesus healing a leper. This encounter highlights Jesus's compassion and power, demonstrating that He is the ultimate healer of both body and soul. The leper's humility and faith are key to his healing, illustrating the transformative power of trust in God. Jesus's instruction to the leper to follow the proper rituals also emphasizes obedience and the importance of integrating faith into everyday life.
These readings remind us that while sin can lead to spiritual exile, God's mercy offers redemption. Like the leper, we are called to approach Jesus with humility and faith, seeking healing and reconciliation. In our daily lives, this means acknowledging our shortcomings, trusting in God's plan, and living with obedience and compassion. The moral lesson is clear: through faith and humility, we can experience God's transformative mercy, restoring us to full life in Him.