Daily Readings - Wed Jun 27 2018
2 Kings
8And Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the secretary, "I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the LORD." And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it.9And Shaphan the secretary came to the king, and reported to the king, "Your servants have emptied out the money that was found in the house and have delivered it into the hand of the workmen who have the oversight of the house of the LORD."10Then Shaphan the secretary told the king, "Hilkiah the priest has given me a book." And Shaphan read it before the king.11When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes.12And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Achbor the son of Micaiah, and Shaphan the secretary, and Asaiah the king's servant, saying,13"Go, inquire of the LORD for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that has been found. For great is the wrath of the LORD that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book, to do according to all that is written concerning us."
1Then the king sent, and all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem were gathered to him.2And the king went up to the house of the LORD, and with him all the men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem and the priests and the prophets, all the people, both small and great. And he read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant that had been found in the house of the LORD.3And the king stood by the pillar and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes with all his heart and all his soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people joined in the covenant.
Matthew
15"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.16You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?17So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit.18A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit.19Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.20Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.
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.