FIRST
READING: 2
Kings 22: 8 - 13;
23:
1 - 3
8
At that moment Hilkiah, the high priest, said to Shaphan, the
secretary, "I have found the Book of the Law in the House of
Yahweh." And he entrusted the Book to Shaphan who read it.
9
Then Shaphan went to the king and said, "We have gathered the
money in the House, and this has been turned over to the caretakers
of the House to make the repairs."
10
And Shaphan added, "The priest Hilkiah has turned over a book to
me." And Shaphan read the book to the king.
11
When the king heard the contents of the book, he tore his clothes and
12
commanded Hilkiah, Ahikam, Achbor, the secretary Shaphan, and Asaiah,
his minister, to do the following,
13
"Go and consult Yahweh about the threats in this book which you
have found. Consult him for me, for the people and for the whole of
Judah, since our fathers did not listen to what this book says nor to
its ordinances. This is why the anger of Yahweh is ready to burn
against us."
1
The king summoned to his side all the leaders of Judah and Jerusalem.
2
Then he went up to the House of Yahweh followed by all the people of
Judah and Jerusalem. The priests with the prophets and all the people
went with him, from the youngest to the oldest. When all were
gathered, he read to them the book of the Law found in the House of
Yahweh.
3
The king stood by the pillar; he made a covenant in the presence of
Yahweh, promising to follow him, to keep his commandments and laws,
and to respect his ordinances. He promised to keep this covenant
according to what was written in the book with all his heart and with
all his soul. And all the people promised with him.
PSALM:
Psalms 119:
33 - 37, 40
33
Explain to me, O Lord, your commandments, and I will be ever faithful
to them.
34
Give me understanding, that I may observe your law with all my heart.
35
Guide me in obeying your instructions, for my pleasure lies in them.
36
Incline my heart to follow your will and not my own selfish desire.
37
Turn my eyes away from vanities and direct them to your life-giving
word.
40
Oh, how I long for your precepts! Renew my life in your
righteousness.
GOSPEL:
Matthew 7:
15 - 20
15
Beware of false prophets: they come to you in sheep's clothing but
inside they are wild wolves.
16
You will recognize them by their fruits. Do you ever pick grapes from
thornbushes, or figs from thistles?
17
A good tree always produces good fruit, a rotten tree produces bad
fruit.
18
A good tree cannot produce bad fruit and a rotten tree cannot bear
good fruit.
19
Any tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown in the
fire.
20
So you will know them by their fruit.
