Daily Readings - Wed Jun 26 2024
2 Kings
8And Hilkiah the high priest said unto Shaphan the scribe, 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 scribe came to the king, and brought the king word again, and said, Thy servants have gathered the money that was found in the house, and have delivered it into the hand of them that do the work, that have the oversight of the house of the LORD.10And Shaphan the scribe shewed the king, saying, Hilkiah the priest hath delivered me a book. And Shaphan read it before the king.11And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the book of the law, that he rent his clothes.12And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Achbor the son of Michaiah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asahiah a servant of the king's, saying,13Go ye, enquire of the LORD for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that is found: for great is the wrath of the LORD that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not hearkened unto the words of this book, to do according unto all that which is written concerning us.
1And the king sent, and they gathered unto him all the elders of Judah and of Jerusalem.2And the king went up into the house of the LORD, and all the men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem with him, and the priests, and the prophets, and all the people, both small and great: and he read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant which was found in the house of the LORD.3And the king stood by a 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 their heart and all their soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people stood to the covenant.
Matthew
15Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.16Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?17Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.18A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.19Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.20Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
Sermon
The readings today remind us of the importance of remaining true to God’s word and the transformative power it holds in our lives. In the first reading from 2 Kings, we see King Josiah’s response to the discovery of the Book of the Law. After hearing the words of the covenant, Josiah tears his garments in repentance and leads his people in renewing their commitment to the Lord. This moment of humility and leadership highlights the urgency of returning to God when we drift away from His teachings. The reading also emphasizes the role of leaders and individuals alike in seeking God’s will and taking action to align their lives with His commandments.
In the Gospel, Jesus warns us about false prophets who appear harmless but lead others astray. He teaches us to discern their true nature by their fruits—their actions and the consequences of their words. This is a call to spiritual vigilance and authenticity. Just as a good tree cannot bear bad fruit, a true follower of God will produce works that reflect His love and truth. Jesus invites us to examine our own lives and the influences around us, ensuring that we remain rooted in His teachings and bear fruit that glorifies Him.
Both readings challenge us to live with integrity and faithfulness. Like King Josiah, we are called to humble ourselves before God’s word and allow it to shape our decisions and actions. Like Jesus’ warning, we must be mindful of the voices we follow and the example we set for others. In a world filled with distractions and false promises, let us turn to God’s word as our guiding light. May we produce fruits of love, justice, and mercy, and may our lives reflect the transformative power of His covenant.