Daily Catholic Mass Readings for June 27, 2024
First Reading: 2 Kings 24.8-17
8Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. And his mother's name was Nehushta, the daughter of Elnathan of Jerusalem.9And he did that which 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 against Jerusalem, and the city was besieged.11And Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came against the city, and his servants did besiege it.12And Jehoiachin the king of Judah went out to the king of Babylon, he, and his mother, and his servants, and his princes, and his officers: and the king of Babylon took him in the eighth year of his reign.13And he carried out thence 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 which Solomon king of Israel had made in the temple of the LORD, as the LORD had said.14And he carried away all Jerusalem, and all the princes, and all the mighty men of valour, even ten thousand captives, and all the craftsmen and smiths: none remained, save the poorest sort of the people of the land.15And he carried away Jehoiachin to Babylon, and the king's mother, and the king's wives, and his officers, and the mighty of the land, those carried he into captivity from Jerusalem to Babylon.16And all the men of might, even seven thousand, and craftsmen and smiths a thousand, all that were strong and apt for war, even them the king of Babylon brought captive to Babylon.17And the king of Babylon made Mattaniah his father's brother king in his stead, and changed his name to Zedekiah.
Psalm 79
1O God, the heathen are come into thine inheritance; thy holy temple have they defiled; they have laid Jerusalem on heaps.2The dead bodies of thy servants have they given to be meat unto the fowls of the heaven, the flesh of thy saints unto the beasts of the earth.3Their blood have they shed like water round about Jerusalem; and there was none to bury them.4We are become a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and derision to them that are round about us.5How long, LORD? wilt thou be angry for ever? shall thy jealousy burn like fire?6Pour out thy wrath upon the heathen that have not known thee, and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon thy name.7For they have devoured Jacob, and laid waste his dwelling place.8O remember not against us former iniquities: let thy tender mercies speedily prevent us: for we are brought very low.9Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for thy name's sake.10Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is their God? let him be known among the heathen in our sight by the revenging of the blood of thy servants which is shed.11Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee; according to the greatness of thy power preserve thou those that are appointed to die;12And render unto our neighbours sevenfold into their bosom their reproach, wherewith they have reproached thee, O Lord.13So we thy people and sheep of thy pasture will give thee thanks for ever: we will shew forth thy praise to all generations.
Gospel: Matthew 7.21-29
21Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.22Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.24Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:25And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.26And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:27And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.28And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:29For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the 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.