1ST READING
There is a little left of the magnificence of the Jewish religion than the Law. The Temple has been destroyed, many of the people are in exile and there is little hope in those who have remained behind. The Law will become the defining symbol of the Jewish faith from this time on. The Temple will be rebuilt a couple more times but it is the Law and those who interpret it authoritatively who will hold sway in the Jewish faith.
2 Kings 22:8-13; 23:1-3
8 The high priest Hilkiah informed the scribe Shaphan, “I have found the book of the law in the temple of the Lord.” Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, who read it. 9 Then the scribe Shaphan went to the king and reported, “Your servants have smelted down the metals available in the temple and have consigned them to the master workmen in the temple of the Lord.” 10 The scribe Shaphan also informed the king that the priest Hilkiah had given him a book, and then read it aloud to the king. 11 When the king had heard the contents of the book of the law, he tore his garments 12 and issued this command to Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, son of Shaphan, Achbor, son of Micaiah, the scribe Shaphan, and the king’s servant Asaiah:13 “Go, consult the Lord for me, for the people, for all Judah, about the stipulations of this book that has been found, for the anger of the Lord has been set furiously ablaze against us, because our fathers did not obey the stipulations of this book, nor fulfill our written obligations.” 23: 1 The king then had all the elders of Judah and of Jerusalem summoned together before him. 2 The king went up to the temple of the Lord with all the men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem: priests, prophets, and all the people, small and great. He had the entire contents of the book of the covenant that had been found in the temple of the Lord, read out to them. 3 Standing by the column, the king made a covenant before the Lord that they would follow him and observe his ordinances, statutes and decrees with their whole hearts and souls, thus reviving the terms of the covenant which were written in this book. And all the people stood as participants in the covenant.
P S A L M
Psalm 119:33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 40
R: Teach me the way of your decrees, O Lord.
33 Instruct me, O Lord, in the way of your statutes, that I may exactly observe them. (R) 34 Give me discernment, that I may observe your law and keep it with all my heart. (R) 35 Lead me in the path of your commands, for in it I delight. (R) 36 Incline my heart to your decrees and not to gain. (R) 37 Turn away my eyes from seeing what is vain: by your way give me life. (R) 40 Behold, I long for your precepts; in your justice give me life. (R)
GOSPEL
Just because somebody says it does not mean that it is right, even if the majority happens to agree. Truth is not a democratic reality – it is rooted in the reality of men and women as beings created in the image and likeness of God. The Natural Law is the truth about our humanity inscribed in our nature as beings created in the image and likeness of God. It is true for all men and women of all time. There are no exceptions to it.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
Remain in me, as I remain in you, says the Lord; whoever remains in me will bear much fruit.
Matthew 7:15-20
15 Jesus said to his disciples: “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but underneath are ravenous wolves. 16 By their fruits you will know them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Just so, every good tree bears good fruit, and a rotten tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a rotten tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 So by their fruits you will know them.” 1st READING 2nd READING
BLESSING
LIST
think: The Natural Law is the truth about our humanity inscribed in our nature as beings created in the image and likeness of God.
T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST
Thank You Lord for: ____________________________________
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God’s special verse/thought for me today________________
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READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR 1 Chronicles 16-18
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