HOLY MASS READINGS FOR WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 2014 FIRST READING> 2 KGS 22:8-13; 23:1-3 The high priest Hilkiah informed the scribe Shaphan, “I have found the book of the law in the temple of the LORD.” Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, who read it. Then the scribe Shaphan went to the king and reported, “Your servants have smelted down the metals available in the temple and have consigned them to the master workmen in the temple of the LORD.” The scribe Shaphan also informed the king that the priest Hilkiah had given him a book, and then read it aloud to the king. When the king heard the contents of the book of the law, he tore his garments and issued this command to Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, son of Shaphan, Achbor, son of Micaiah, the scribe Shaphan, and the king’s servant Asaiah: “Go, consult the LORD for me, for the people, for all Judah, about the stipulations of this book that has been found, for the anger of the LORD has been set furiously ablaze against us, because our fathers did not obey the stipulations of this book, nor fulfill our written obligations.” The king then had all the elders of Judah and of Jerusalem summoned together before him. The king went up to the temple of the LORD with all the men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem: priests, prophets, and all the people, small and great. He had the entire contents of the book of the covenant that had been found in the temple of the LORD, read out to them. Standing by the column, the king made a covenant before the LORD that they would follow him and observe his ordinances, statutes and decrees with their whole hearts and souls, thus reviving the terms of the covenant which were written in this book. And all the people stood as participants in the covenant. REFLECTION>RAISING YOUR RENT When the king had heard the contents of the book of the law, he tore his garments. –2 Kings 22:11 When King Josiah heard the book of the law read, he rent his garments. Josiah knew that Gods people were accountable to obey Gods Word whether they cared enough to know it or not. He also knew that Gods people were not obeying Gods Word and thereby were under condemnation (2 Kgs 22:13). Thus, in deep sorrow for sin and in dread of punishment, Josiah rent his garments. The prophetess Huldah prophesied regarding Josiah and his rending of his garments: Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: As for the threats you have heard, because you were heartsick and have humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard My threats that this place and its inhabitants would become a desolation and a curse; because you tore your garments and wept before Me; I in turn have listened, says the Lord (2 Kgs 22:18-19). Josiah was forgiven his disobedience of Gods Word, and he was also spared seeing the punishing of Gods people (2 Kgs 22:20). We too have disobeyed Gods Word, and therefore we have a fearful expectation of judgment and a flaming fire to consume the adversaries of God (Heb 10:27). Yet even now, says the Lord, return to Me with your whole heart, with fasting, and weeping, and mourning; rend your hearts, not your garments, and return to the Lord, your God. For gracious and merciful is He, slow to anger, rich in kindness, and relenting in punishment (Jl 2:12-13). Rend your hearts! (Jl 2:13) PRAYER: Father, send the Holy Spirit to convict me of sin (Jn 16:8). PROMISE: You will know them by their deeds. –Mt 7:16 SOURCE>myCatholic RESPONSORIAL PSALM> PS 119:33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 40 R. (33a) Teach me the way of your decrees, O Lord. Instruct me, O LORD, in the way of your statutes, that I may exactly observe them. R. Teach me the way of your decrees, O Lord. Give me discernment, that I may observe your law and keep it with all my heart. R. Teach me the way of your decrees, O Lord. Lead me in the path of your commands, for in it I delight. R. Teach me the way of your decrees, O Lord. Incline my heart to your decrees and not to gain. R. Teach me the way of your decrees, O Lord. Turn away my eyes from seeing what is vain: by your way give me life. R. Teach me the way of your decrees, O Lord. Behold, I long for your precepts; in your justice give me life. R. Teach me the way of your decrees, O Lord. HOLY GOSPEL ACCDG TO MATTHEW, Chapter 7: Jesus said to his disciples: “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but underneath are ravenous wolves. By their fruits you will know them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Just so, every good tree bears good fruit, and a rotten tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a rotten tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. So by their fruits you will know them.” MEDITATION: What do grapes, thorns, figs, and thistles have to teach us about the kingdom of God? The imagery used by Jesus would have been very familiar to his audience. A certain thornbush had berries which resembled grapes. And a certain thistle had a flower, which at least from a distance, resembled the fig. Isnt it the same today? What we hear might have a resemblance of the truth, but, in fact, when you inspect it closely, its actually false. False prophets or teachers abound today as much as they did in biblical times. Whats the test of a true or false teacher? Jesus connects soundness with good fruit. Something is sound when it is free from defect, decay, or disease and is healthy. Good fruit is the result of sound living - living according to moral truth and upright character. The prophet Isaiah warned against the dangers of falsehood: Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness (Isaiah 5:20). The fruits of falsehood produce an easy religion which takes the iron out of religion, the cross out of Christianity, and any teaching which eliminates the hard sayings of Jesus, and which push the judgments of God into the background and makes us think lightly of sin. How do we avoid falsehood in our personal lives? By being true - true to God, his word, and his grace. And that takes character! Those who are true to God know that their strength lies not in themselves but in God who supplies what we need. The fruit of a disciple is marked by faith, hope and love, justice, prudence, fortitude and temperance. Do you seek to cultivate good fruit in your life and reject whatever produces bad fruit? Lord Jesus, may I bear good fruit for your sake and reject whatever will produce evil fruit. Help me grow in faith, hope, love, sound judgment, justice, courage, and self control. SOURCE>RCNet
Posted on: Tue, 24 Jun 2014 04:16:37 +0000
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