20260625 DOERS OF THE WORD
25 June 2026, Thursday, 12th Week in Ordinary Time
First reading | 2 Kings 24:8-17 |
The first deportation into captivity in Babylon
Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he came to the throne, and he reigned for three months in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Nehushta, daughter of Elnathan, from Jerusalem. He did what is displeasing to the Lord, just as his father had done.
At that time the troops of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon marched on Jerusalem, and the city was besieged. Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon himself came to attack the city while his troops were besieging it. Then Jehoiachin king of Judah surrendered to the king of Babylon, he, his mother, his officers, his nobles and his eunuchs, and the king of Babylon took them prisoner. This was in the eighth year of King Nebuchadnezzar.
The latter carried off all the treasures of the Temple of the Lord and the treasures of the royal palace, and broke up all the golden furnishings that Solomon king of Israel had made for the sanctuary of the Lord, as the Lord had foretold. He carried off all Jerusalem into exile, all the nobles and all the notables, ten thousand of these were exiled, with all the blacksmiths and metalworkers; only the poorest people in the country were left behind. He deported Jehoiachin to Babylon, as also the king’s mother, his eunuchs and the nobility of the country; he made them all leave Jerusalem for exile in Babylon. All the men of distinction, seven thousand of them, the blacksmiths and metalworkers, one thousand of them, all of them men capable of bearing arms, were led into exile in Babylon by the king of Babylon.
The king of Babylon made Mattaniah, Jehoiachin’s uncle, king in succession to him, and changed his name to Zedekiah.
Responsorial Psalm |
Psalm 78(79):1-5,8-9 |
Rescue us, O Lord, for the glory of your name.
O God, the nations have invaded your land,
they have profaned your holy temple.
They have made Jerusalem a heap of ruins.
They have handed over the bodies of your servants
as food to feed the birds of heaven
and the flesh of your faithful to the beasts of the earth.
Rescue us, O Lord, for the glory of your name.
They have poured out blood like water in Jerusalem;
no one is left to bury the dead.
We have become the taunt of our neighbours,
the mockery and scorn of those who surround us.
How long, O Lord? Will you be angry for ever;
how long will your anger burn like fire?
Rescue us, O Lord, for the glory of your name.
Do not hold the guilt of our fathers against us.
Let your compassion hasten to meet us;
we are left in the depths of distress.
Rescue us, O Lord, for the glory of your name.
O God our saviour, come to our help.
Come for the sake of the glory of your name.
O Lord our God, forgive us our sins;
rescue us for the sake of your name.
Rescue us, O Lord, for the glory of your name.
Gospel Acclamation | Heb4:12 |
Alleluia, alleluia!
The word of God is something alive and active:
it can judge secret emotions and thoughts.
Alleluia!
Gospel | Matthew 7:21-29 |
The wise man built his house on a rock
Jesus said to his disciples: ‘It is not those who say to me, “Lord, Lord,” who will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the person who does the will of my Father in heaven. When the day comes many will say to me, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, cast out demons in your name, work many miracles in your name?” Then I shall tell them to their faces: I have never known you; away from me, you evil men!
‘Therefore, everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on rock. Rain came down, floods rose, gales blew and hurled themselves against that house, and it did not fall: it was founded on rock. But everyone who listens to these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a stupid man who built his house on sand. Rain came down, floods rose, gales blew and struck that house, and it fell; and what a fall it had!’
Jesus had now finished what he wanted to say, and his teaching made a deep impression on the people because he taught them with authority, and not like their own scribes.
DOERS OF THE WORD
SCRIPTURE READINGS: [2 KGS 24:8-17; PS 79:1-5,8-9; MT 7:21-29]
As Christians, we are called to be the New People of God, just as Israel was the Old People of God. What does it take to be a member of the People of God? In the Old Testament, and even during the earthly ministry of Jesus, the Jews believed that they were the chosen race and were saved by virtue of their lineage. This is why, at the dawn of the Church, Jewish Christians insisted that Gentile converts adopt Jewish practices–especially circumcision–to be considered part of God’s chosen people.
However, today’s Scripture readings make it clear that there is no special preference based on heritage for those accepted into the People of God. Instead, we are called all the more to live the life of Christ. St. Peter wrote, “Be all the more eager to confirm your call and election, for if you do this, you will never stumble. For in this way, entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ will be richly provided for you” (2 Pt 1:10-11). In the Gospel, the Lord declares, “It is not those who say to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ who will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the person who does the will of my Father in heaven. When the day comes many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, cast out demons in your name, work miracles in your name?’ Then I shall tell them to their faces: ‘I have never known you; away from me, you evil men!'”
We see a historical parallel to this in the First Reading, where the Israelites were sent into exile because of their disobedience to the Lord. Both Israel and Judah had been unfaithful to the Covenant. Israel had already been conquered by the Assyrians, and now Judah was under attack from Babylon. Because of the people’s persistent disobedience, God did not intervene when Nebuchadnezzar advanced against Judah. Eventually, Jerusalem was besieged and conquered. King Jehoiakim died before the city surrendered, succeeded by his eighteen-year-old son, Jehoiachin. In an attempt to save the nation from complete destruction, the young king surrendered and was exiled along with his harem, high officials, and the upper classes of society. This included all skilled workers–especially blacksmiths and metalworkers–who were potential arms manufacturers. By doing this, the Babylonian king ensured that no rebellion could rise in Judah again.
Why would the Lord reject people who not only recognised Him as Lord but even performed the very works Jesus did, such as exorcism and miracles, in His name? The reality is that false disciples can gain spiritual power by using Jesus’ name, but their activities alone do not secure them a place in heaven. In God’s eyes, it is not enough to do the things He did; more importantly, we must obey His will. Their profession of faith was merely verbal, lacking personal and moral depth. They paid lip service, but their lives did not match their confession. There is a vast difference between saying and doing. As Samuel told Saul when the king disobeyed God, “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obedience to the voice of the Lord? Surely, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams” (1 Sm 15:22).
When Christ returns as the eschatological judge, He will banish them from His sight, saying, “I have never known you; away from me, you evil men!” This is a sobering warning for us all. Jesus was not speaking to serial killers, rapists, swindlers, atheists, or godless rulers. Rather, He was addressing those who claimed to live as professed Christians. They call Jesus “Lord” and claim to have done “Church work.” Yet, the Judge says, “I do not know you!” One can do the work of God, perform mighty deeds in ministry, preach the Gospel eloquently, build churches, and grow congregations–but if they lack integrity, charity, and compassion in their everyday lives, it is all in vain. In the final analysis, under the guise of working for God, they were actually working for themselves.
This warning aligns with what the Lord said earlier about the “surpassing righteousness” we must seek (cf. Mt 5:20). This assertion of Jesus’ absolute authority appears early on, but it reaches its climax at the end of the Gospel when the Lord mandates His disciples, instructing: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you” (Mt 28:18-20).
In this way, Matthew reminds us that the Sermon on the Mount is fundamentally a Christological statement. Jesus is not merely a wise teacher; He is our Lord and King. Any confession that does not proclaim Him as such is unworthy of Him. His true identity as the final judge also appears in the Last Judgment pericope of Matthew 25. In that text, Jesus makes it clear that only those who act with concrete charity and compassion will be admitted into the Kingdom of God. Accordingly, believers are not saved simply because they attend Sunday services or claim to know Jesus, if they never actually do the will of God.
What, then, is the Father’s will? Obedience to the will of God means fulfilling His Law perfectly, moving beyond external observance to embrace the spirit of the Law. At the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven” (Mt 5:17-19). Jesus came to show and teach us how to fulfill the law perfectly in spirit and in truth.
Ultimately, doing the Father’s will means living out the life of the Kingdom as the Lord taught us in the Sermon on the Mount. The Beatitudes sum up the blueprint of this life of the Kingdom. Living in accordance with these principles results in true righteousness. Jesus stands as our ultimate example of obedience to the Father. To follow His example and way of life is the very essence of Christian discipleship. This is why a religious confession alone is insufficient; it cannot replace a personal relationship with the Lord or a life spent living out His teachings. If what we profess and what we do are out of alignment, our profession of Jesus as Lord is not true submission to His Lordship. The mere fact that a believer can perform miracles in Jesus’ name–which is an exercise of charismatic grace–is no proof of holiness or true union with the Lord.
Consequently, Jesus gives us the parable of the two builders to highlight the critical gap between hearing and doing: “Therefore, everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on rock. Rain came down, floods rose, gales blew and hurled themselves against the house, and it did not fall: it was founded on rock. But everyone who listens to these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a stupid man who built his house on sand. Rain came down, floods rose, gales blew and struck that house, and it fell: and what a fall it had!”
The point is clear: neither intellectual knowledge nor a verbal confession of faith is enough to enter the Kingdom. Although both knowledge and confession are vital, there is no substitute for obedience
20260625 DOERS OF THE WORD
25 June 2026, Thursday, 12th Week in Ordinary Time
First reading | 2 Kings 24:8-17 |
The first deportation into captivity in Babylon
Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he came to the throne, and he reigned for three months in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Nehushta, daughter of Elnathan, from Jerusalem. He did what is displeasing to the Lord, just as his father had done.
At that time the troops of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon marched on Jerusalem, and the city was besieged. Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon himself came to attack the city while his troops were besieging it. Then Jehoiachin king of Judah surrendered to the king of Babylon, he, his mother, his officers, his nobles and his eunuchs, and the king of Babylon took them prisoner. This was in the eighth year of King Nebuchadnezzar.
The latter carried off all the treasures of the Temple of the Lord and the treasures of the royal palace, and broke up all the golden furnishings that Solomon king of Israel had made for the sanctuary of the Lord, as the Lord had foretold. He carried off all Jerusalem into exile, all the nobles and all the notables, ten thousand of these were exiled, with all the blacksmiths and metalworkers; only the poorest people in the country were left behind. He deported Jehoiachin to Babylon, as also the king’s mother, his eunuchs and the nobility of the country; he made them all leave Jerusalem for exile in Babylon. All the men of distinction, seven thousand of them, the blacksmiths and metalworkers, one thousand of them, all of them men capable of bearing arms, were led into exile in Babylon by the king of Babylon.
The king of Babylon made Mattaniah, Jehoiachin’s uncle, king in succession to him, and changed his name to Zedekiah.
Responsorial Psalm |
Psalm 78(79):1-5,8-9 |
Rescue us, O Lord, for the glory of your name.
O God, the nations have invaded your land,
they have profaned your holy temple.
They have made Jerusalem a heap of ruins.
They have handed over the bodies of your servants
as food to feed the birds of heaven
and the flesh of your faithful to the beasts of the earth.
Rescue us, O Lord, for the glory of your name.
They have poured out blood like water in Jerusalem;
no one is left to bury the dead.
We have become the taunt of our neighbours,
the mockery and scorn of those who surround us.
How long, O Lord? Will you be angry for ever;
how long will your anger burn like fire?
Rescue us, O Lord, for the glory of your name.
Do not hold the guilt of our fathers against us.
Let your compassion hasten to meet us;
we are left in the depths of distress.
Rescue us, O Lord, for the glory of your name.
O God our saviour, come to our help.
Come for the sake of the glory of your name.
O Lord our God, forgive us our sins;
rescue us for the sake of your name.
Rescue us, O Lord, for the glory of your name.
Gospel Acclamation | Heb4:12 |
Alleluia, alleluia!
The word of God is something alive and active:
it can judge secret emotions and thoughts.
Alleluia!
Gospel | Matthew 7:21-29 |
The wise man built his house on a rock
Jesus said to his disciples: ‘It is not those who say to me, “Lord, Lord,” who will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the person who does the will of my Father in heaven. When the day comes many will say to me, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, cast out demons in your name, work many miracles in your name?” Then I shall tell them to their faces: I have never known you; away from me, you evil men!
‘Therefore, everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on rock. Rain came down, floods rose, gales blew and hurled themselves against that house, and it did not fall: it was founded on rock. But everyone who listens to these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a stupid man who built his house on sand. Rain came down, floods rose, gales blew and struck that house, and it fell; and what a fall it had!’
Jesus had now finished what he wanted to say, and his teaching made a deep impression on the people because he taught them with authority, and not like their own scribes.
DOERS OF THE WORD
SCRIPTURE READINGS: [2 KGS 24:8-17; PS 79:1-5,8-9; MT 7:21-29]
As Christians, we are called to be the New People of God, just as Israel was the Old People of God. What does it take to be a member of the People of God? In the Old Testament, and even during the earthly ministry of Jesus, the Jews believed that they were the chosen race and were saved by virtue of their lineage. This is why, at the dawn of the Church, Jewish Christians insisted that Gentile converts adopt Jewish practices–especially circumcision–to be considered part of God’s chosen people.
However, today’s Scripture readings make it clear that there is no special preference based on heritage for those accepted into the People of God. Instead, we are called all the more to live the life of Christ. St. Peter wrote, “Be all the more eager to confirm your call and election, for if you do this, you will never stumble. For in this way, entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ will be richly provided for you” (2 Pt 1:10-11). In the Gospel, the Lord declares, “It is not those who say to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ who will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the person who does the will of my Father in heaven. When the day comes many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, cast out demons in your name, work miracles in your name?’ Then I shall tell them to their faces: ‘I have never known you; away from me, you evil men!'”
We see a historical parallel to this in the First Reading, where the Israelites were sent into exile because of their disobedience to the Lord. Both Israel and Judah had been unfaithful to the Covenant. Israel had already been conquered by the Assyrians, and now Judah was under attack from Babylon. Because of the people’s persistent disobedience, God did not intervene when Nebuchadnezzar advanced against Judah. Eventually, Jerusalem was besieged and conquered. King Jehoiakim died before the city surrendered, succeeded by his eighteen-year-old son, Jehoiachin. In an attempt to save the nation from complete destruction, the young king surrendered and was exiled along with his harem, high officials, and the upper classes of society. This included all skilled workers–especially blacksmiths and metalworkers–who were potential arms manufacturers. By doing this, the Babylonian king ensured that no rebellion could rise in Judah again.
Why would the Lord reject people who not only recognised Him as Lord but even performed the very works Jesus did, such as exorcism and miracles, in His name? The reality is that false disciples can gain spiritual power by using Jesus’ name, but their activities alone do not secure them a place in heaven. In God’s eyes, it is not enough to do the things He did; more importantly, we must obey His will. Their profession of faith was merely verbal, lacking personal and moral depth. They paid lip service, but their lives did not match their confession. There is a vast difference between saying and doing. As Samuel told Saul when the king disobeyed God, “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obedience to the voice of the Lord? Surely, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams” (1 Sm 15:22).
When Christ returns as the eschatological judge, He will banish them from His sight, saying, “I have never known you; away from me, you evil men!” This is a sobering warning for us all. Jesus was not speaking to serial killers, rapists, swindlers, atheists, or godless rulers. Rather, He was addressing those who claimed to live as professed Christians. They call Jesus “Lord” and claim to have done “Church work.” Yet, the Judge says, “I do not know you!” One can do the work of God, perform mighty deeds in ministry, preach the Gospel eloquently, build churches, and grow congregations–but if they lack integrity, charity, and compassion in their everyday lives, it is all in vain. In the final analysis, under the guise of working for God, they were actually working for themselves.
This warning aligns with what the Lord said earlier about the “surpassing righteousness” we must seek (cf. Mt 5:20). This assertion of Jesus’ absolute authority appears early on, but it reaches its climax at the end of the Gospel when the Lord mandates His disciples, instructing: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you” (Mt 28:18-20).
In this way, Matthew reminds us that the Sermon on the Mount is fundamentally a Christological statement. Jesus is not merely a wise teacher; He is our Lord and King. Any confession that does not proclaim Him as such is unworthy of Him. His true identity as the final judge also appears in the Last Judgment pericope of Matthew 25. In that text, Jesus makes it clear that only those who act with concrete charity and compassion will be admitted into the Kingdom of God. Accordingly, believers are not saved simply because they attend Sunday services or claim to know Jesus, if they never actually do the will of God.
What, then, is the Father’s will? Obedience to the will of God means fulfilling His Law perfectly, moving beyond external observance to embrace the spirit of the Law. At the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven” (Mt 5:17-19). Jesus came to show and teach us how to fulfill the law perfectly in spirit and in truth.
Ultimately, doing the Father’s will means living out the life of the Kingdom as the Lord taught us in the Sermon on the Mount. The Beatitudes sum up the blueprint of this life of the Kingdom. Living in accordance with these principles results in true righteousness. Jesus stands as our ultimate example of obedience to the Father. To follow His example and way of life is the very essence of Christian discipleship. This is why a religious confession alone is insufficient; it cannot replace a personal relationship with the Lord or a life spent living out His teachings. If what we profess and what we do are out of alignment, our profession of Jesus as Lord is not true submission to His Lordship. The mere fact that a believer can perform miracles in Jesus’ name–which is an exercise of charismatic grace–is no proof of holiness or true union with the Lord.
Consequently, Jesus gives us the parable of the two builders to highlight the critical gap between hearing and doing: “Therefore, everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on rock. Rain came down, floods rose, gales blew and hurled themselves against the house, and it did not fall: it was founded on rock. But everyone who listens to these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a stupid man who built his house on sand. Rain came down, floods rose, gales blew and struck that house, and it fell: and what a fall it had!”
The point is clear: neither intellectual knowledge nor a verbal confession of faith is enough to enter the Kingdom. Although both knowledge and confession are vital, there is no substitute for obedience to His word. Even being deeply impressed by His words–as Jesus’ original audience was–does not mean we truly believe and do what He says. The question is not whether we read, teach, or share the Scriptures, but whether we proclaim the Lordship of Christ through our actions. This is what truly matters. As St. James reminds us, “Be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves” (Jas 1:22).
Best Practices for Using the Daily Scripture Reflections
- Encounter God through the spirit of prayer and the scripture by reflecting and praying the Word of God daily. The purpose is to bring you to prayer and to a deeper union with the Lord on the level of the heart.
- Daily reflections when archived will lead many to accumulate all the reflections of the week and pray in one sitting. This will compromise your capacity to enter deeply into the Word of God, as the tendency is to read for knowledge rather than a prayerful reading of the Word for the purpose of developing a personal and affective relationship with the Lord.
- It is more important to pray deeply, not read widely. The current reflections of the day would be more than sufficient for anyone who wants to pray deeply and be led into an intimacy with the Lord.
Note: You may share this reflection with someone. However, please note that reflections are not archived online nor will they be available via email request.
Written by His Eminence, Cardinal William SC Goh, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Singapore © All Rights Reserved
His word. Even being deeply impressed by His words–as Jesus’ original audience was–does not mean we truly believe and do what He says. The question is not whether we read, teach, or share the Scriptures, but whether we proclaim the Lordship of Christ through our actions. This is what truly matters. As St. James reminds us, “Be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves” (Jas 1:22).
Best Practices for Using the Daily Scripture Reflections
- Encounter God through the spirit of prayer and the scripture by reflecting and praying the Word of God daily. The purpose is to bring you to prayer and to a deeper union with the Lord on the level of the heart.
- Daily reflections when archived will lead many to accumulate all the reflections of the week and pray in one sitting. This will compromise your capacity to enter deeply into the Word of God, as the tendency is to read for knowledge rather than a prayerful reading of the Word for the purpose of developing a personal and affective relationship with the Lord.
- It is more important to pray deeply, not read widely. The current reflections of the day would be more than sufficient for anyone who wants to pray deeply and be led into an intimacy with the Lord.
Note: You may share this reflection with someone. However, please note that reflections are not archived online nor will they be available via email request.
Written by His Eminence, Cardinal William SC Goh, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Singapore © All Rights Reserved
