2 Kings 17:5-8, 13-15, 18, Psalm 60:3-5, 12-13, Matthew 7:15-20

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

2 Kings 17:5-8, 13-15, 18, Psalm 60:3-5, 12-13, Matthew 7:15-20

2 Kings 17:5-8, 13-15, 18

My soul's beloved, we are told in these verses that God had rejected the whole nation of Israel because they were unfaithful. They forgot what God had done for them and how He had taken them out of slavery and settled them in the promised land. Despite all the warnings that were given them through the mouths of prophets and holy men they chose to indulge in sinful practices by wishing false gods.

The age we live in is no different. We allow the culture of the day to decide what is true or false while closing our ears to the voice of the Church and her ministers. We get our truth from slick, lying, gossip magazines and we avidly read and follow the lifestyles of the rich and famous who worship the flesh, power and money. We are slowly but surely being sucked into the great lie and we are surprised when even nature is turning against us because we now celebrate death instead of life.

However, we know that the world belongs to You. The Father has established Your Kingship over the world and so the faithful remnant need not lose hope. You are Emmanuel God with us and You have saved us.

Psalm 60:3-5, 12-13

My soul's beloved, we have been given aid against the foe. You have not only broken the shackles that held us in bondage, You have not only washed us from the filth of sin but You have poured Your Own Holy Spirit into our hearts to help us to choose You over sin and to direct and guide us to live according to Your will. Thank You for revealing to us that God is our Father, Your Mother is ours as well and we have angelic forces in heaven to battle against the evil unleashed on this world because of sin.

Matthew 7:15-20

 My soul's beloved, once more today You warn in no uncertain terms that we have to be alert and aware of the presence of real evil in the world. The devil is prowling around like a lion ready to devour, steal, plunder and kill. Everywhere we see evil being touted as good. The desires and the will of the individual is taught to be the touchstone by which we decide our own moral truth. We are called to be selfish and callous about those who have no voice to defend themselves. We put pleasure above discipline of our sinful desires.

A good tree cannot produce bad fruit and a bad tree cannot produce good fruit. Truth is truth and it will always  prevail.