JUNE 20 Mon Weekday (Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time)

2 Kgs 17:5-8, 13-15a, 18/Mt 7:1-5 

21 Tue Saint Aloysius Gonzaga, Religious Memorial

2 Kgs 19:9b-11, 14-21, 31-35a, 36/Mt 7:6, 12-14 

22 Wed Weekday [St Paulinus of Nola, Bishop; Sts John Fisher, Bishop, and Thomas More, Martyrs] 2 Kgs 22:8-13; 23:1-3/Mt 7:15-20 

23 Thu THE NATIVITY OF SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST Solemnity

 Is 49:1-6/Acts 13:22-26/Lk 1:57-66, 80 

24 Fri THE MOST SACRED HEART OF JESUS Solemnity

Ez 34:11-16/Rom 5:5b-11/Lk 15:3-7 

25 Sat  Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary Memorial

Lam 2:2, 10-14, 18-19 (376)/Lk 2:41-51 

26 SUN THIRTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

1 Kgs 19:16b, 19-21/Gal 5:1, 13-18/Lk 9:51-62 

We continue to read from the two Books of Kings this week.  Here’s how they’re described in the Introduction in the New American Bible: 

“The two Books of Kings are regarded by many as the last part of a work commonly known as the Deuteronomistic History. The latter tells the story of Israel from its settlement in the land (Joshua and Judges) through the transition from judgeship to monarchy under Samuel, Saul, and David (1 and 2 Samuel) to the reign of Solomon, the disintegration of the united kingdom into the kingdoms of Israel and Judah and the eventual downfall of both kingdoms (1 and 2 Kings). The Deuteronomistic History along with the Pentateuch forms a single historical narrative stretching from creation to exile.” NAB intro.

I and 2 Kings recounts Israel’s disintegration from a united kingdom under Solomon into two kingdoms, then the eventual disintegration of the both kingdoms, leading to Israel’s exile in Babylon. Though the narratives offer historical, economic and cultural information, they’re shaped by one dominant theme: Israel’s faithfulness to God’s covenant with David. Kings, leaders and people are judged by whether they abided by that norm or not.  

Prophets like Elijah and Isaiah, voices of God’s judgment, play an essential part in 1 and 2 Kings, which appeared in final form after the Babylonian exile. They’re written for the Jewish community in exile to guide it into the future by learning from its past. They also tell us today that our nations will be judged by God. 

The weekday readings from the gospel continue are from Matthew’s Sermon on the Mount.

Two important feasts are celebrated this week: the Nativity of John the Baptist (Thursday) and the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. (Friday)