Daily Readings - Tue Jun 25 2024
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
The first reading from 2 Kings tells the story of Hezekiah, the king of Judah, as he faces the threat of invasion from the Assyrian king, Sennacherib. When Hezekiah receives a taunting letter from Sennacherib, he turns to God in prayer, spreading the letter before the Lord and asking for deliverance. Isaiah, the prophet, responds with a message of hope: God will protect Jerusalem, and the Assyrian army will not prevail. That night, an angel of the Lord strikes down 185,000 Assyrian soldiers, and Sennacherib is forced to retreat. This story underscores the power of faith and trust in God, even in the face of overwhelming odds.
In the Gospel, Jesus teaches about the importance of living according to God’s will. He warns against giving sacred things to those who do not appreciate them, using the metaphor of pearls and swine. He then emphasizes the Golden Rule: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you," which summarizes the law and the prophets. Jesus also speaks about the narrow gate that leads to life, contrasting it with the broad and easy path that leads to destruction. This teaching challenges us to examine our choices and priorities, urging us to follow the difficult but life-giving path of discipleship.
Both readings invite us to reflect on our relationship with God and our commitment to living a life of faith and integrity. Hezekiah’s story reminds us that trust in God can lead to miraculous deliverance, even when all seems lost. Jesus’ teachings call us to live with purpose and moral clarity, choosing the narrow path that aligns with God’s will. In our daily lives, we face many challenges and decisions. Let us turn to God in prayer, just as Hezekiah did, and let us strive to live according to the values of the Gospel, even when the world around us encourages us to take the easier way. By doing so, we will find true life and fulfill our calling as children of God.