Daily Readings - Tue Jun 21 2022
2 Kings
9Now the king heard concerning Tirhakah king of Cush, "Behold, he has set out to fight against you." So he sent messengers again to Hezekiah, saying,10"Thus shall you speak to Hezekiah king of Judah: 'Do not let your God in whom you trust deceive you by promising that Jerusalem will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.11Behold, you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands, devoting them to destruction. And shall you be delivered?14Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers and read it; and Hezekiah went up to the house of the LORD and spread it before the LORD.15And Hezekiah prayed before the LORD and said: "O LORD the God of Israel, who is enthroned above the cherubim, you are the God, you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; you have made heaven and earth.16Incline your ear, O LORD, and hear; open your eyes, O LORD, and see; and hear the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to mock the living God.17Truly, O LORD, the kings of Assyria have laid waste the nations and their lands18and have cast their gods into the fire, for they were not gods, but the work of men's hands, wood and stone. Therefore they were destroyed.19So now, O LORD our God, save us, please, from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you, O LORD, are God alone."20Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah, saying, "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Your prayer to me about Sennacherib king of Assyria I have heard.21This is the word that the LORD has spoken concerning him: "She despises you, she scorns you--the virgin daughter of Zion; she wags her head behind you--the daughter of Jerusalem.31For out of Jerusalem shall go a remnant, and out of Mount Zion a band of survivors. The zeal of the LORD will do this.32"Therefore thus says the LORD concerning the king of Assyria: He shall not come into this city or shoot an arrow there, or come before it with a shield or cast up a siege mound against it.33By the way that he came, by the same he shall return, and he shall not come into this city, declares the LORD.34For I will defend this city to save it, for my own sake and for the sake of my servant David."35And that night the angel of the LORD went out and struck down 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians. And when people arose early in the morning, behold, these were all dead bodies.36Then Sennacherib king of Assyria departed and went home and lived at Nineveh.
Matthew
6"Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.12"So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.13"Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.14For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter powerful lessons about trust in God and the importance of living according to His will. The first reading from 2 Kings recounts the story of Hezekiah, king of Judah, who faced the threat of invasion by the Assyrian king, Sennacherib. Despite the daunting odds, Hezekiah turned to God in prayer, trusting in His deliverance. Through the prophet Isaiah, God assured Hezekiah that Jerusalem would be saved, and indeed, an angel of the Lord struck down the Assyrian army, sparing the city. This passage reminds us of the importance of faith and prayer, especially in times of crisis. When we place our trust in God, He can accomplish what seems impossible.
In the Gospel, Jesus teaches us about the importance of living according to God’s will. He warns us not to give what is holy to those who cannot appreciate it, emphasizing the need to discern how we share our faith and values. Jesus also reminds us of the Golden Rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” This is not just a moral guideline but a reflection of God’s law and the prophets. Finally, Jesus speaks about the narrow gate that leads to life, urging us to choose the path that is difficult but leads to eternal salvation. This teaching challenges us to examine our choices and priorities, ensuring that we are living in a way that aligns with God’s plan.
These readings invite us to reflect on our own lives. Like Hezekiah, we are called to trust in God’s providence, even when circumstances seem overwhelming. Like the teachings of Jesus, we are reminded to live with integrity, compassion, and discernment. The narrow gate is not just a physical path but a spiritual one—a commitment to follow Christ and live according to His teachings. Let us pray for the grace to trust in God’s plan and to walk the narrow path with courage and faith, knowing that true life comes from following Him.