DAILY- HOMILY

June 28, 2018 – THURSDAY, 12th Week in Ordinary Time

St. lrenaeus, Bishop and Martyr

Memorial. Red.

2 Kgs 24: 8 -17 / Mt 7: 21- 29

Born in Smyrna, St. lrenaeus (125 - 203) was a disciple of St. Polycarp (d.155). He preached against Gnosticism and wrote an important treatise; he became Bishop of Lyons and sent missionaries to various parts of France.

FROM THE 1ST READING:             2 Kgs 24: 14- 15

Nebuchadnezzar carried off into exile all the leaders and prominent men, the blacksmiths and locksmiths, all the men of valor fit for war. A total of ten thousand were exiled to Babylon. Only the poorest sector of the population was left. Nebuchadnezzar also carried away Jehoiachin, with his mother, his wives, the ministers of the palace and the prominent men of the land.

FROM THE GOSPEL READING:     Mt 7: 21 - 27

Jesus said, "Not everyone who says to me, Lord! Lord! will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my heavenly Father. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not speak in your name? Did we not cast out demons and perform many miracles in your name?' Then I will tell them openly:

I have never known you; away from me, you evil people!

"So, then, anyone who hears these words of mine and acts accordingly is like a wise man, who built his house on rock. The rain poured, the rivers flooded and the wind blew and struck that house, but it did not collapse because it was built on rock. But anyone who hears these words of mine and does not act accordingly, is like a fool who built his house on sand. The rain poured, the rivers flooded, and the wind blew and struck that house; it collapsed, and what a terrible fall that was!"

REFLECTION

In the first reading we read about the defeat and conquest of Jerusalem by

Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, and the exile of Israel's king and people to Babylon. In exile, the people of Israel will long and pray for their return to their promised land.

At the Gospel reading which comes as the conclusion of the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew's Gospel, we are reminded that it is not enough to just call on the Lord. What is key to entering the kingdom of heaven is "doing the will of my heavenly Father." We pray for this every time we pray the Lord's prayer, "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.." At the Last Supper Jesus repeatedly told his disciples, "If you love me, you will keep my commandments." (Jn 14: 15) At his Agony in the Garden the night before he died, Jesus repeatedly prayed, "Not my will but yours be done." (Lk 22: 42)

In the Gospel reading, comparing our following of Jesus to building a house, Jesus tells us that our lives would be built on rock if we hear and follow him; our lives would be built on sand if we do not follow his commandments.

Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers and for those who need our prayers the most.. 

Have a good day!

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