Breaking the Word

12^th Week in Ord. Time, Friday – 28^th June 2024 – 2 Kgs 25,1-12; Mt 8,1-4

Destructions due to Disobedience

The first reading brings to an end the sad tragedy of Israel’s degradation and humiliation – the second deportation. King Zedekiah’s rebellion against Nebuchadnezzar, the King of Babylon, led to the destruction of the city of Jerusalem, the palace of the king, the Temple of the Lord, and the walls of the city. Rebelling against the king was a bad mistake on his part. His two sons were killed before his eyes while Zedekiah’s eyes were plucked out. Ezekiel had prophesied that the king would be brought to Babylon but would not see the city (Eze 12,13). Jeremiah prophesied that the exile of Judah of Babylon would last for seventy years (Jer 29,10-11). He had even advised Zedekiah how to avoid his own punishment and the destruction of the city, but the king had not listened Jer 38,14-28). God promised to restore Israel and give them a Davidic king to establish peace and justice in the land (Jer 31,31-32). The lesson of today’s reading is very similar to that of previous days. God does not take vengeance as we humans do but we do reap the natural consequences of our immoral behaviour and disobedience.

12^thWeek in Ord. Time, Thursday – 27^th June 2024 – 2 Kgs 24,8-17; Mt 7,21-29

Exilic Punishment

The first reading describes the events of King Jehoiachin, the fall of Jerusalem, and the first deportation of the Israelites into Babylon.  The young king, merely 18 years old, was part of the Davidic dynasty and does not do what God wants. Like his predecessors, Jehoiachin was unfaithful and failed to be like his father, Josiah, who tried to turn the people of Judah back to God and in observance of the covenant law.  Since he was in the royal line of David, he broke the covenant with God by following the paths of some of his ancestors. Therefore, during the reign of king Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, the kingdom of Judah and the city of Jerusalem fell into his hands. The young king, his army, his mother and all his court, and workers were bound up and taken captive to Babylon. Once again, we see God’s people pay for their infidelities in failing to keep the law of the Lord. At the same time, exile teaches us that every experience is a challenge to find God in a new situation and new environment.