Daily Readings - Thu Jun 25 2020
2 Kings
8Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he became king, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Nehushta the daughter of Elnathan of Jerusalem.9And he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father had done.10At that time the servants of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up to Jerusalem, and the city was besieged.11And Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to the city while his servants were besieging it,12and Jehoiachin the king of Judah gave himself up to the king of Babylon, himself and his mother and his servants and his officials and his palace officials. The king of Babylon took him prisoner in the eighth year of his reign13and carried off all the treasures of the house of the LORD and the treasures of the king's house, and cut in pieces all the vessels of gold in the temple of the LORD, which Solomon king of Israel had made, as the LORD had foretold.14He carried away all Jerusalem and all the officials and all the mighty men of valor, 10,000 captives, and all the craftsmen and the smiths. None remained, except the poorest people of the land.15And he carried away Jehoiachin to Babylon. The king's mother, the king's wives, his officials, and the chief men of the land he took into captivity from Jerusalem to Babylon.16And the king of Babylon brought captive to Babylon all the men of valor, 7,000, and the craftsmen and the metal workers, 1,000, all of them strong and fit for war.17And the king of Babylon made Mattaniah, Jehoiachin's uncle, king in his place, and changed his name to Zedekiah.
Matthew
21"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.22On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?'23And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'24"Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.25And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.26And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.27And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it."28And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching,29for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two profound lessons that invite us to reflect on the consequences of our actions and the foundation of our faith. The first reading from 2 Kings recounts the fall of Jerusalem and the exile of its people under King Jehoiachin. This passage serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of turning away from God. Despite the warnings of the prophets, the people of Judah persisted in their sinful ways, leading to their captivity in Babylon. This historical event is not merely a tale of the past but a timeless cautionary story about the importance of living in fidelity to God’s will.
The Gospel reading from Matthew offers a complementary yet distinct perspective. Jesus teaches that it is not enough to merely call him “Lord” or to perform impressive deeds in his name. True discipleship requires living out God’s will in our daily lives. Jesus uses the parable of the wise and foolish builders to illustrate this point. The wise builder, who constructs his house on rock, represents the person who hears and acts on God’s word. The foolish builder, who builds on sand, symbolizes those who hear but do not act. The storms of life will test the foundation of our faith, and only those who have rooted their lives in obedience to God’s will will stand firm.
These readings challenge us to examine the foundation of our own lives. Are we like the exiles of Judah, allowing sin and complacency to guide us? Or are we building our lives on the rock of God’s word, ensuring that our actions align with our faith? Jesus’ teaching reminds us that our relationship with God is not measured by words or outward appearances but by our commitment to living out His will. As we go about our daily lives, let us strive to be wise builders, grounding ourselves in prayer, virtue, and a deep commitment to following Christ. In doing so, we will weather the storms of life with confidence and fidelity, knowing that our foundation is unshakable.