The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to confront the distractions and obstacles that may be interfering with our release from the captivity of the world.
The Reading from the Second Book of Kings presents the Reign of Jehoiachin
* [24:12] The eighth year of his reign: that is, of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, not Jehoiachin’s. The year was 597 B.C.
* [24:14] People of the land: see note on 11:14. (2 Kings, CHAPTER 24 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 79 is a lament complaining that the nations have defiled the Temple.
* [Psalm 79] A communal lament complaining that the nations have defiled the Temple and murdered the holy people, leaving their corpses unburied (Ps 79:1–4). The occasion is probably the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonian army in 587 B.C. The people ask how long the withdrawal of divine favor will last (Ps 79:5), pray for action now (Ps 79:6–7), and admit that their own sins have brought about the catastrophe (Ps 79:8–9). They seek to persuade God to act for reasons of honor: the nations who do not call upon the Name are running amok (Ps 79:6); the divine honor is compromised (Ps 79:1, 10, 12); God’s own servants suffer (Ps 79:2–4, 11). (Psalms, PSALM 79 | USCCB, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus identifies the True Disciple and our choice between The Two Foundations.
* [7:15–20] Christian disciples who claimed to speak in the name of God are called prophets (Mt 7:15) in Mt 10:41; Mt 23:34. They were presumably an important group within the church of Matthew. As in the case of the Old Testament prophets, there were both true and false ones, and for Matthew the difference could be recognized by the quality of their deeds, the fruits (Mt 7:16). The mention of fruits leads to the comparison with trees, some producing good fruit, others bad.
* [7:21–23] The attack on the false prophets is continued, but is broadened to include those disciples who perform works of healing and exorcism in the name of Jesus (Lord) but live evil lives. Entrance into the kingdom is only for those who do the will of the Father. On the day of judgment (on that day) the morally corrupt prophets and miracle workers will be rejected by Jesus.
* [7:23] I never knew you: cf. Mt 10:33. Depart from me, you evildoers: cf. Ps 6:9.
* [7:24–27] The conclusion of the discourse (cf. Lk 6:47–49). Here the relation is not between saying and doing as in Mt 7:15–23 but between hearing and doing, and the words of Jesus are applied to every Christian (everyone who listens).
* [7:28–29] When Jesus finished these words: this or a similar formula is used by Matthew to conclude each of the five great discourses of Jesus (cf. Mt 11:1; 13:53; 19:1; 26:1). (Matthew, CHAPTER 7 | USCCB, n.d.)
Rev. George Meze, SJ, comments that today’s Gospel reminds us that love is shown through our actions. Obeying God’s Will is like building a house on solid rock.
The good news is that God never gives up on us. St. Ignatius noted that God’s help always remains available even if we do not perceive it clearly. He goes on to add that even in deep desolations, God still provides sufficient grace for our salvation. We know that God’s grace of repentance is always available despite our infinite folly. His will for us is to return to Him without measure.
Repentance is God’s infinite love, through which we can always begin. This, to me, is the priceless treasure that God provides without measure to help us do His Will. It is from this gift of repentance that we find the strength to do His will more and more each day. (Meze, 2026)
Don Schwager quotes “The house falls if Christ is not the rock and foundation,” by Origen of Alexandria (185-254 AD)
"'For neither death nor life nor angels nor other things can separate us from the love of Christ' (Romans 8:38-39). Neither can the flooding of rivers, as in the lands of Egypt and Assyria [symbolize worldly wisdom opposed to God], do harm. Only those are harmed who build on sand, who practice the wisdom of the world. The winds that blow are like the false prophets. All these, coming together in one place, 'beat upon' the house. If it is founded on rock, they do no harm. 'The way of a snake upon a rock' is not to be found (Proverbs 30:19). But in the form of temptations and persecutions, which may mount into a flood, they beat upon even the one who seems to be well-founded. The house falls if it does not have Christ as its basis and foundation. But the truly wise person builds one's house 'upon a rock.' This is the way the Lord builds his church - upon the rock, with steadfastness and strength. This is why 'the gates of hell shall not prevail against it' (Matthew 16:18). All the persecutions that fall upon that house accomplish nothing. The house is founded upon the rock. (excerpt from FRAGMENT 153) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Matthew 7:21-29 comments that for the past three chapters of his Gospel, Matthew has been giving us Jesus’ words in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7): Be poor in spirit. Hunger and thirst for righteousness. Stop judging. Turn the other cheek. Treat everyone as you want to be treated. Pray, fast, and give alms—but do it in secret. Seek first the kingdom of God.
Consider taking time today to slowly read over these words of Jesus a few times. As you do, see if the Holy Spirit highlights a verse or two that seems to speak directly to you.
If something sticks out, sit with it for a few moments. Is there something that God is asking you to focus on? Is there some action he is asking you to take? Some sin to confess? Some change he wants you to make? Write down whatever comes to mind and see how you can live it out more fully. Know that as you do, you’ll be taking that next step of building on the solid, reliable foundation of Jesus’ words.
“Lord, help me to build my life on you alone!” (Meditation on Matthew 7:21-29, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments that in 2 Kings the defeat of King Jehoiakim by the Babylonians and the nobles deported to Babylon in 597 BCE is the first exile. Zedekiah ruled until 587 BCE and the second exile continued until 539 BCE and Cyrus the Great freed the Jews in 538 BC primarily as a strategic political maneuver to ensure loyalty across his newly conquered territories. In the first exile, Ezekiel is taken and he becomes a prophet outside of Israel raising questions about a true prophet existing outside of Israel. Everyone who proclaims “Lord, Lord” as a superficial act of worship is going through the motions but our faith must be totally grounded. Friar Jude notes the faithful will stand firm in difficult situations and reject the feeling of failure in an attitude of surrender to the Lord.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces organizer and activist Mariame Kaba who reflects on hope as a discipline. Kaba describes how short-term thinking prevents us from accessing hope.
I take a long view, understanding full well that I’m just a tiny, little part of a story that already has a huge antecedent and has something that is going to come after that. I’m definitely not going to be even close to around for seeing the end of it. That also puts me in the right frame of mind: that … [what] I’m doing is actually pretty insignificant in world history, but if it’s significant to one or two people, I feel good about that….
I talk to a lot of young organizers.… I’m always telling them—“Your timeline is not the timeline on which movements occur. Your timeline is incidental. Your timeline is only for yourself to mark your growth and your living.” But that’s a fraction of the living that’s going to be done by the universe and that has already been done by the universe. When you understand that you’re really insignificant in the grand scheme of things, then it’s a freedom, in my opinion, to actually be able to do the work that’s necessary as you see it and to contribute in the ways that you see fit. (Rohr, n.d.)
We implore the Spirit to enlighten our contemplation of Jesus instruction in the Sermon on the Mount and inspire our faith and hope to act as disciples of Christ in our environment.
References
Matthew, CHAPTER 7 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved June 25, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/7?
Meditation on Matthew 7:21-29. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved June 25, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/06/25/1600045/
Meze, G. (2026, June 25). Daily Reflection June 25, 2026 | Creighton Online Ministries. Creighton Online Ministries. Retrieved June 25, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-june-25-2026
Psalms, PSALM 79 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings, Audio and Video Every Morning | USCCB. Retrieved June 25, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/79?1
Rohr, R. (n.d.). Hope Is a Discipline. CAC.org. Retrieved June 25, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/hope-is-a-discipline/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). The Wise Who Built Their House upon the Rock. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved June 25, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/
2 Kings, CHAPTER 24 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved June 25, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/2kings/24?
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