Daily Readings - Mon Jun 22 2020
2 Kings
5The king of Assyria invaded the entire land, marched against Samaria and laid siege to it for three years.6In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria captured Samaria and deported the Israelites to Assyria. He settled them in Halah, in Gozan on the Habor River and in the towns of the Medes.7All this took place because the Israelites had sinned against the LORD their God, who had brought them up out of Egypt from under the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt. They worshiped other gods8and followed the practices of the nations the LORD had driven out before them, as well as the practices that the kings of Israel had introduced.13The LORD warned Israel and Judah through all his prophets and seers: "Turn from your evil ways. Observe my commands and decrees, in accordance with the entire Law that I commanded your fathers to obey and that I delivered to you through my servants the prophets."14But they would not listen and were as stiff-necked as their fathers, who did not trust in the LORD their God.15They rejected his decrees and the covenant he had made with their fathers and the warnings he had given them. They followed worthless idols and themselves became worthless. They imitated the nations around them although the LORD had ordered them, "Do not do as they do," and they did the things the LORD had forbidden them to do.18So the LORD was very angry with Israel and removed them from his presence. Only the tribe of Judah was left,
Matthew
1"Do not judge, or you too will be judged.2For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.3"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?4How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?5You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of sin, judgment, and humility. In the first reading from 2 Kings, we witness the fall of Israel and their exile into Assyria. This narrative serves as a theological explanation for their conquest, highlighting their turning away from God towards idolatry and disobedience. The consequences of their actions are clear: exile and separation from the covenant. This historical account underscores the importance of faithfulness and the repercussions of neglecting divine guidance.
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus teaches us about the dangers of hypocrisy in judgment. He admonishes us not to judge others lest we be judged, using the vivid metaphor of removing the plank from our own eye before addressing the splinter in another's. This teaching, part of the Sermon on the Mount, emphasizes the need for self-reflection and humility in our interactions with others.
Both readings connect through the themes of sin and judgment. While 2 Kings illustrates the collective judgment of a nation for its sins, Matthew focuses on individual judgment and the hypocrisy of condemning others while ignoring our own faults. This duality reminds us that recognizing our own shortcomings is essential before we can address those of others. In our daily lives, this teaches us to approach others with compassion and humility, fostering healthier relationships and communities. The moral lesson here is clear: true wisdom lies in self-awareness and humility, guiding us to lead by example rather than judgment.