Daily Readings - Thu Jun 27 2024
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
The readings today invite us to reflect on the consequences of our choices and the importance of living in accordance with God’s will. In the first reading from 2 Kings, we see the fall of Jerusalem and the exile of King Jehoiachin. This tragic event occurred because the people of Judah had turned away from the Lord, ignoring the prophets and continuing in their sinful ways. The once-great kingdom, blessed by God, was reduced to ruins and captivity. This serves as a stark reminder of what happens when we reject God’s love and ignore His commandments. The fall of Jerusalem is not just a historical event but a spiritual lesson for us today: sin has consequences, and turning away from God leads to emptiness and loss.
In the Gospel, Jesus teaches us that not everyone who calls Him “Lord” will enter the kingdom of heaven. He emphasizes that true discipleship is not about words but about actions. Jesus uses the parable of the wise and foolish builders to illustrate this point. The wise builder, who hears His words and acts on them, is like a house built on rock—stable and unshakable. The foolish builder, who hears but does not act, is like a house built on sand—vulnerable to collapse. This teaching challenges us to examine our own lives: are we merely hearing God’s word, or are we living it? True faith requires obedience and a commitment to follow Jesus’ teachings in our daily lives.
The connection between the two readings is clear: both remind us that our choices have consequences. In the first reading, the people of Judah chose sin and suffered the loss of their kingdom. In the Gospel, Jesus warns us that choosing to ignore His teachings will lead to spiritual ruin. Today, we are called to reflect on our own choices. Are we building our lives on the rock of God’s word, or are we resting on the sand of complacency? Let us strive to be wise builders, rooted in faith and obedience, so that we may stand firm against the storms of life. May we turn away from sin and turn toward God, living in a way that reflects our commitment to His will.