In today’s reading, now Josiah was king. His father King Amon had returned idol worship to Judah and abandoning God and His covenant. Chronicles says that Amon “did not humble himself before the LORD…on the contrary, Amon only increased his guilt.” Amon was such a bad king that his royal officials assassinated him, placing Josiah on the throne of Judah.
And unlike his father, Josiah sought to be true to the covenant, “He did what was right in the LORD’s sight, walking in the way of David his father, not turning right or left.”
And today we read how the high priest rediscovers the scriptures, and Josiah tears his clothes out of shame for how far his fathers had fallen from God. And then Josiah gathered all the people and reads the entire book to them. The king helped the nation rediscover its relationship with God and faithfulness to the covenant. He of recommitted himself and the nation to their religious obligations. So that they may know God’s friendship, his divine favor, and protection.
Josiah echoed the sentiments in today’s psalm, written by David centuries before, “Instruct me, O LORD, in the way of your statutes, that I may exactly observe them.”
In the reading from the sermon on the mount, the Lord is warning his followers to beware false prophets.
How can we discern between authentic prophets and false prophets? In light of the first reading and psalm, True prophets point us to the faithful practice of our God-given religion; false prophets l water down the faith and seek to recreate the Church according to the principles of the world. True prophets help us to rediscover and live out the truth of Christ’s teachings, false prophets preach, what St. Paul calls, “an empty seductive philosophy.” True prophets teach us to bear our crosses, faithfully; false prophets urge us to cast away our crosses and base our decision on feelings, pleasure, power, and wealth.
“By their fruits you will know” the false prophets. And we do know the fruits of the false prophets of our age: broken marriages, abortion, perversion, corruption in government, biblical and doctrinal illiteracy, grievously low church attendance, the dehumanization of the poor, and the loss of the sense of sin. So many rotten fruits from turning away from the authentic teaching of Christ.
Rather, Christ teaches us that we are blessed—we come to know the fullness of life—when we humble ourselves, and aim to obey all he teaches, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.
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For the Church, that like King Josiah, our leaders may help us rediscover the fullness of our faith and recommit ourselves to living out Christ's teachings faithfully. Let us pray to the Lord.
For our society, that we may turn away from the rotten fruits of false teachings and instead embrace the life-giving words of Christ. Let us pray to the Lord.
For those who have fallen away from the faith, that like the people of Judah in Josiah's time, they may rediscover the beauty and truth of God's word. Let us pray to the Lord.
For those who are suffering, especially the poor and marginalized, that we may see Christ in them and respond with compassion and justice. Let us pray to the Lord.
For our community, that we may grow in biblical and doctrinal literacy, deepening our understanding and love for our faith. Let us pray to the Lord.
For the grace to bear our crosses faithfully, finding in them a path to draw closer to Christ and His saving love. Let us pray to the Lord.
For all who have died, may they rejoice forever in the presence of the Lamb of God, especially X….
Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord
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