Readings for Wednesday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time[1][2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 2 Kings 22:8-13; 23:1-3
This passage chronicles the reign of King Josiah who followed King Manasseh who had reigned for 55 years and had done evil in the eyes of the Lord, following “abominable practices” (2 Kings 21:2ff). King Josiah had ordered the gifts of precious metals given to the temple to be melted down and paid out to workmen who repaired the temple. During this renovation the book of the Law was rediscovered and the people were brought back to the faith through the reaffirmation of the covenant. The historical ebb and flow of faith in Israel continues.
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 119:33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 40
R. Teach me the way of your decrees, O Lord.
The strophes selected from this very long psalm focus on the fidelity of the singer to the “ordinances, statutes and decrees” of the Law in direct reference to the communal lament offered in 2 Kings 22. Psalm 119 is an individual lament asking for God’s support in times of difficulty.
Gospel Matthew 7:15-20
In this section of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus warns against people claiming to be God’s messengers but whose message goes against God’s commands. Jesus uses an analogy of the fruit produced by various plants as a way to test the authenticity of those who claim to come in God’s name. He tells them that the product or result of the words offered by a self proclaimed messenger will identify them. In his time, this was probably another warning about the teaching of the Scribes and Pharisees who placed self serving demands upon the people.
Reflection:
The journey of faith described in the historical books of sacred scripture (1 &2 Kings and 1 &2 Chronicles) describes a people whose experience of the God drew them closer then apart. As different influences impact them, whether it is an external force like an invading army or an internal force like a corrupt king their experience of God changes. In the scripture passage today we see a new king (Josiah) come into power and bring with him the reforms so needed. He calls the people back to Gods Law, supported by Shaphan a scribe and part of a prominent family. The continuity of this story is linked to the Book of the Prophet Jeremiah (Jeremiah 26:24) if we take the longer view.
The description of what takes place as King Josiah discovers, apparently for the first time, the precepts of the Law of Moses provides an example of what Jesus is saying in St. Matthew’s Gospel. Just because a king has a position of trust and authority does not mean they are leading in a direction that is in keeping with what God wishes for the people. In this case Josiah discovers the error of his predecessors and has a conversion experience which brings him and all those who follow him to the teachings of Moses. By fruits of his efforts we see him as just and wise.
We must look at this long view and turn it inward at ourselves. If we take the time to look at the events of our lives we can see there the times when we were faithful to God, walking closely with the Lord and other times when we strayed far from him. While our goal is always to be faithful, always growing closer, we can see people and situations that tempt us onto different paths. As much as we long for the company of the Lord, we are seduced by a path that seems easier, by actions that bring us more personal pleasure, by the veil of darkness that hides what we do sometimes even from ourselves.
It is because we can take these retrospective looks at our past that we can correct our course. If we look at where we have been and were we are, we can see that our path to the Lord may have wandered (never so far that we cannot come back). We can see, as if looking back at a path from a high hill, the times when we made wrong turns and bad choices and we can correct our paths. We can only do this if we are listening to the Lord who is our compass. There are so many others who would encourage us to take an easier way, a darker way. The Lord asks us; “Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?” He challenges us when we try to justify our actions that go against what he teaches.
Today we take a long gaze back along the path we have walked. We see the times when we have walked far from Jesus and we see where we stand now. We ask God humbly to help us correct our course – to change our path so that we might once more be walking that path that leads to the Father.
Pax
[1] After Links to Readings Expire
[2] The picture used today is “Josiah Orders The Book Of The Law Read Aloud To The Elders” by Merian Matthaeus the Elder, 1625-30
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 2 Kings 22:8-13; 23:1-3
This passage chronicles the reign of King Josiah who followed King Manasseh who had reigned for 55 years and had done evil in the eyes of the Lord, following “abominable practices” (2 Kings 21:2ff). King Josiah had ordered the gifts of precious metals given to the temple to be melted down and paid out to workmen who repaired the temple. During this renovation the book of the Law was rediscovered and the people were brought back to the faith through the reaffirmation of the covenant. The historical ebb and flow of faith in Israel continues.
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 119:33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 40
R. Teach me the way of your decrees, O Lord.
The strophes selected from this very long psalm focus on the fidelity of the singer to the “ordinances, statutes and decrees” of the Law in direct reference to the communal lament offered in 2 Kings 22. Psalm 119 is an individual lament asking for God’s support in times of difficulty.
Gospel Matthew 7:15-20
In this section of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus warns against people claiming to be God’s messengers but whose message goes against God’s commands. Jesus uses an analogy of the fruit produced by various plants as a way to test the authenticity of those who claim to come in God’s name. He tells them that the product or result of the words offered by a self proclaimed messenger will identify them. In his time, this was probably another warning about the teaching of the Scribes and Pharisees who placed self serving demands upon the people.
Reflection:
The journey of faith described in the historical books of sacred scripture (1 &2 Kings and 1 &2 Chronicles) describes a people whose experience of the God drew them closer then apart. As different influences impact them, whether it is an external force like an invading army or an internal force like a corrupt king their experience of God changes. In the scripture passage today we see a new king (Josiah) come into power and bring with him the reforms so needed. He calls the people back to Gods Law, supported by Shaphan a scribe and part of a prominent family. The continuity of this story is linked to the Book of the Prophet Jeremiah (Jeremiah 26:24) if we take the longer view.
The description of what takes place as King Josiah discovers, apparently for the first time, the precepts of the Law of Moses provides an example of what Jesus is saying in St. Matthew’s Gospel. Just because a king has a position of trust and authority does not mean they are leading in a direction that is in keeping with what God wishes for the people. In this case Josiah discovers the error of his predecessors and has a conversion experience which brings him and all those who follow him to the teachings of Moses. By fruits of his efforts we see him as just and wise.
We must look at this long view and turn it inward at ourselves. If we take the time to look at the events of our lives we can see there the times when we were faithful to God, walking closely with the Lord and other times when we strayed far from him. While our goal is always to be faithful, always growing closer, we can see people and situations that tempt us onto different paths. As much as we long for the company of the Lord, we are seduced by a path that seems easier, by actions that bring us more personal pleasure, by the veil of darkness that hides what we do sometimes even from ourselves.
It is because we can take these retrospective looks at our past that we can correct our course. If we look at where we have been and were we are, we can see that our path to the Lord may have wandered (never so far that we cannot come back). We can see, as if looking back at a path from a high hill, the times when we made wrong turns and bad choices and we can correct our paths. We can only do this if we are listening to the Lord who is our compass. There are so many others who would encourage us to take an easier way, a darker way. The Lord asks us; “Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?” He challenges us when we try to justify our actions that go against what he teaches.
Today we take a long gaze back along the path we have walked. We see the times when we have walked far from Jesus and we see where we stand now. We ask God humbly to help us correct our course – to change our path so that we might once more be walking that path that leads to the Father.
Pax
[1] After Links to Readings Expire
[2] The picture used today is “Josiah Orders The Book Of The Law Read Aloud To The Elders” by Merian Matthaeus the Elder, 1625-30
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