Daily Readings - Tue Jun 25 2024
2 Kings
9Now Sennacherib received a report that Tirhakah, the Cushite king of Egypt, was marching out to fight against him. So he again sent messengers to Hezekiah with this word:10"Say to Hezekiah king of Judah: Do not let the god you depend on deceive you when he says, 'Jerusalem will not be handed over to the king of Assyria.'11Surely you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all the countries, destroying them completely. And will you be delivered?14Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it. Then he went up to the temple of the LORD and spread it out before the LORD.15And Hezekiah prayed to the LORD: "O LORD, God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth.16Give ear, O LORD, and hear; open your eyes, O LORD, and see; listen to the words Sennacherib has sent to insult the living God.17"It is true, O LORD, that the Assyrian kings have laid waste these nations and their lands.18They have thrown their gods into the fire and destroyed them, for they were not gods but only wood and stone, fashioned by men's hands.19Now, O LORD our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all kingdoms on earth may know that you alone, O LORD, are God."20Then Isaiah son of Amoz sent a message to Hezekiah: "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: I have heard your prayer concerning Sennacherib king of Assyria.21This is the word that the LORD has spoken against him: "'The Virgin Daughter of Zion despises you and mocks you. The Daughter of Jerusalem tosses her head as you flee.31For out of Jerusalem will come a remnant, and out of Mount Zion a band of survivors. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.32"Therefore this is what the LORD says concerning the king of Assyria: "He will not enter this city or shoot an arrow here. He will not come before it with shield or build a siege ramp against it.33By the way that he came he will return; he will not enter this city, declares the LORD.34I will defend this city and save it, for my sake and for the sake of David my servant."35That night the angel of the LORD went out and put to death a hundred and eighty-five thousand men in the Assyrian camp. When the people got up the next morning-there were all the dead bodies!36So Sennacherib king of Assyria broke camp and withdrew. He returned to Nineveh and stayed there.
Matthew
6"Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.12So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.13"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.14But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
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.