Daily Readings - Thu Jun 27 2024
2 Kings
8Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. His mother's name was Nehushta daughter of Elnathan; she was from Jerusalem.9He did evil in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father had done.10At that time the officers of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon advanced on Jerusalem and laid siege to it,11and Nebuchadnezzar himself came up to the city while his officers were besieging it.12Jehoiachin king of Judah, his mother, his attendants, his nobles and his officials all surrendered to him. In the eighth year of the reign of the king of Babylon, he took Jehoiachin prisoner.13As the LORD had declared, Nebuchadnezzar removed all the treasures from the temple of the LORD and from the royal palace, and took away all the gold articles that Solomon king of Israel had made for the temple of the LORD.14He carried into exile all Jerusalem: all the officers and fighting men, and all the craftsmen and artisans-a total of ten thousand. Only the poorest people of the land were left.15Nebuchadnezzar took Jehoiachin captive to Babylon. He also took from Jerusalem to Babylon the king's mother, his wives, his officials and the leading men of the land.16The king of Babylon also deported to Babylon the entire force of seven thousand fighting men, strong and fit for war, and a thousand craftsmen and artisans.17He 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 only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.22Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?'23Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'24"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.25The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.26But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.27The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."28When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching,29because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.
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.