Tuesday of the
Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time
(II Kings 19:9b-11.14-21.31-35a.36; Matthew 7:6.12-14)
In this time of pandemic it is instructive to note a
similar one in Scripture. Today’s first
reading recounts how the mighty Assyrian army ready to attack Jerusalem was
overwhelmed. It says that tens of
thousands of its troops succumbed to the pestilence on the fields of Judah. Those who did not die fled back to their
native land.
The Biblical writer understands the fall of the Assyrians
as a divine triumph. God responds to the
prayer of Judah’s king for help. In
fact, Hezekiah has a reputation of piety.
He opposes worship of foreign gods and reforms Judah’s cultic worship.
It is right, then, that God acts on his sincere plea for help.
In today’s gospel Jesus warns his disciples to “enter
through the narrow gate.” He means, of
course, that they conscientiously do his Father’s will. Hezekiah’s doing so spared the falling of his
kingdom into the hands of Assyria. Let
us not doubt that our doing so will secure similarly favorable treatment. It will likely spare us much trouble and
usher us into God’s kingdom.
