Daily Readings - Wed Jun 22 2022
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 living a life of authenticity. In the first reading from 2 Kings, we hear the story of King Josiah, who, upon discovering the book of the law, tears his garments in repentance and leads his people in a renewed commitment to follow God’s commandments. This moment of reckoning highlights the transformative power of God’s word when it is taken seriously. The king’s actions demonstrate a deep recognition of the people’s failure to live according to the teachings of the law, and his response is one of humility and resolve.
In the Gospel, Jesus warns us about false prophets who appear righteous but are inwardly corrupt. He tells us that we can identify them by their fruits—good trees bear good fruit, and bad trees bear bad fruit. This teaching challenges us to reflect on the authenticity of our own faith and the company we keep. Just as King Josiah called the people back to the covenant, Jesus calls us to discernment and integrity. The readings together remind us that our relationship with God is not just about outward appearances but about the depth of our commitment and the fruit it produces in our lives.
Let us apply this to our daily lives. Just as the Israelites had to return to the book of the law, we must regularly return to God’s word and examine how we are living. Are we bearing fruit that reflects our faith, or are we merely going through the motions? Let us strive to be people of integrity, rooted in God’s teachings, and mindful of the example we set for others. By doing so, we not only deepen our own relationship with God but also become witnesses of His love and truth in the world.