2 Kgs 19:9-11, 14-21, 31-36; Matthew 7:6, 12-14
Introduction:
Having overcome the Northern Kingdom, the Assyrians now turn their attention to the Southern Kingdom of Judah and Jerusalem. All other countries have fallen before the Assyrian power; why should Judah be the exception?
King Hezekiah of Judah has only one option – to pray to his God for help. At this point Isaiah, the prophet, intervenes with a long (vv.21-31) oracular message from God (and, except for its final verse, not included in today's reading): "out of Jerusalem shall come a remnant". Isaiah interprets this as saying that Sennacherib will not reach Jerusalem.
And that very night, 185,000 of the Assyrian army were mysteriously struck down and Sennacherib had no option but to return to his capital at Niniveh. What seems to have happened is that the Assyrian army was struck down by some virulent infection or plague which swept through it like a forest fire.
Here, we see that things do not happen by accident. The destruction of the Assyrian army may be attributed to purely natural causes but the eyes of faith see there God's protecting hand for his people and especially for the city of David to which he had made so many promises.
Let us, too, see the hand of God operating in all the details of our lives – both the joyful and painful – and discern what he is trying to tell us.
For the times we have failed to trust in the Lord in times of difficulty let us ask his pardon and peace.
HOMILY:"from impulse to reason to faith"
Today's Gospel passage contains three apparently unrelated teachings of Jesus. Sermon on the Mount is a highly edited collection of sayings on the general theme of the qualities to be found in a true disciple of Jesus.
Jesus uses the language of the people in His time when He admonishes them not to give what is holy to dogs or toss out pearls before pigs. Remember, for Jews, both dogs and pigs are unclean animals (Nagas and Mangys may not agree!).
The dogs and the swine represent those who live with a materialistic attitude, those poisoned by greed. When we are greedy, we are like swine and dogs, ready to tear others to pieces to get our own way.
The second saying is the famous 'Golden Rule', which is not exclusive to Christianity or the Gospel. What might be emphasised here is its being expressed in positive terms.
The third saying is a contrast between the narrow gate and the wide road.
Puzzled over three sayings Jesus gives us in the gospel reading, I found it helpful to organize these as the ways of animals, the ways of people and the ways of God.
Animals follow their survival instincts. People, on the other hand, need to follow the golden rule, or some of sort of a traffic jam could result in their interactions. Jesus as the Way invites us to follow Him taking up the difficult path – with full trust in him that he will deliver us.
Somehow, we are invited to move from impulse to reason to faith.
For Hezekiah the king, impulse would have been to run away to save himself, reason would have been to surrender, but by faith he trusted in the Lord. Let us ask for the grace to choose the road less travelled with complete trust in the Lord.
Sources:
http://livingspace.sacredspace.ie/O2123R/
http://livingspace.sacredspace.ie/O2123G/
http://justmehomely.wordpress.com/2012/06/25/tuesday-of-the-12th-week-of-the-year-2/
http://www.associationofcatholicpriests.ie/2012/06/june-26-tuesday-of-week-twelve/
Vally Mendonca, S.J.
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