Access daily Mass readings, meditations and articles, as well as special resources, by becoming a subscriber or logging in. Subscribers: Please log in to view the Mass readings. Not a subscriber? Subscribe for only $12 (Save $4). I have listened. (2 Kings 19:20) King Hezekiah knew this day would come. One by one, all the city-states surrounding Judah had fallen to the Assyrian army. Then, Hezekiah received a message from Sennacherib, king of Assyria, boasting that Judah was next. “Do not let your God . . . deceive you by saying that Jerusalem will not be handed over” (2 Kings 19:10). It was a blunt message—the kind meant to intimidate and strike terror in the heart of its reader. But notice how Hezekiah reacted. He “went up to the temple of the Lord, and . . . prayed in the Lord’s presence” (2 Kings 19:14, 15). It can be easy to gloss over this detail. Of course he prayed, we might say; that’s what you’re supposed to do. But we also know how easy it can be to either shrink in fear or to respond aggressively when someone comes at us aggressively. It’s like a natural reflex to respond in kind, even if it means escalating an already tense situation. But Hezekiah chose a different path. What a model for us—even if our challenges don’t rise to the level of international diplomacy! First, Hezekiah didn’t react right away. He took hold of the letter and made a beeline for the Temple, where he could find peace in God’s presence. Rather than trust his initial reactions, he went to the Lord first. Second, Hezekiah sought guidance from the Lord. Spreading out the letter before the Lord, he opened his heart to God and asked for help. He needed to distinguish between the thoughts arising from his emotions and the thoughts that come from a heart established in faith and trust. In response, God assured Hezekiah that he had “listened” and that he would indeed protect Jerusalem (2 Kings 19:20). And sure enough, he did! Hezekiah’s example shows us that we don’t have to give in to the first thoughts that come to mind—especially when we are feeling anxious, fearful, or upset. Instead, we can seek the help of the God who listens. If we learn to listen as well, we’ll find the peace that we need to move forward in confidence. “Lord, help me always to run to you when I am in trouble and I don’t know what to do!”
12th Week in Ordinary Time
DAILY MASS READINGS AVAILABLE WITH A SUBSCRIPTION
Daily Meditation: 2 Kings 19:9-11, 14-21, 31-36
Psalm 48:2-4, 10-11
Matthew 7:6, 12-14