Daily Readings - Wed Jun 22 2022
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 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.