“Then Shaphan the secretary told the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read it before the king. And when the king heard the words of the book of the law, he tore his clothes. And the king commanded Hilkiah thy priest, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Achbor the son of Micaiah; and Shaphan the secretary, and Asaiah the king’s servant, saying, “Go, inquire of the Lord for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that‘ has been found; for great is the wrath of the Lord that is kindled against us, . . . . . . . . . .”
Excerpt, First Reading, Wednesday 26th June 2024 – 2 KINGS 22:8-13; 23: 1-3.
So, as mortals, made in the image and likeness of God, we have conscience.
It is this conscience that makes even the most hardened of us to soften up and reflect whenever we are attentive when the word of God is preached.
Now, do we still wonder why most hardened people do not bother going to church?
Little wonder, the devil crafts different avenues to get us distracted often when we are in the church.
My dear friend, the word of God has impacts and it is imparting.
For these reasons, the Bible says of it thus, “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” – HEBREWS 4:12.
The Bible further buttressed the above assertion, “The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness.” – LAMENTATIONS 3:22-23.
Finally, God says, “So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” – ISAIAH 55:11.
Of the truth, the devil knows all these in detail.
Hence, he gets us distracted from evening touching the Bible or giving our undivided attention to listen to the word of God.
The Mass has various stages of sitting, standing, kneeling and walking all in a space of less than two hours.
Yet, some of us still get so bored that we either sleep through these stages or we fumble with our phones to get distracted.
Dear friend, it mustn’t be lost on us that as often as we permit ourselves to be distracted in church, it is the handiwork of the devil wanting us to distract from the good that he knows about but can no longer benefit of it.
In today’ teaching, the word of God tore through the king as it should also tear through us whenever we are attentive to it.
Then, as Christ said in today’s Gospel reading, we will begin to bear good fruits.
Have a fantastic day folks.
#Blessed_Carlo_Acutis! #Pray_for_us!
– Akase F. Agabo.