First Reading
2 Chronicles 24:17-25
Read this as the first big movement of the day. Notice what God is doing, who is speaking, and what part of the story or teaching should stay with you.
17And after the death of Joiada, the leaders of Juda went in, and worshipped the king: and he was soothed by their services and hearkened to them.
18And they forsook the temple of the Lord the God of their fathers, and served groves and idols, and wrath came upon Juda and Jerusalem for this sin.
19And he sent prophets to them to bring them back to the Lord, and they would not give ear when they testified against them.
20The spirit of God then came upon Zacharias the son of Joiada the priest, and he stood before the people, and said to them: Thus says the Lord God: Why transgress you the command of the Lord which will not be for your good, and have left the Lord, to make him leave you?
21And they gathered themselves together against him, and stoned him at the king's command in the court of the house of the Lord.
22And king Joas did not remember the kindness that Joiada his father had done to him, but killed his son. And when he died, he said: The Lord see, and require it.
23And when a year was come about, the army of Syria came up against him: and they came to Juda and Jerusalem, end killed all the leaders of the people, and they sent all the spoils to the king of Damascus.
24And whereas there came a very small number of the Syrians, the Lord rescued into their hands an infinite crowd, because they had left the Lord the God of their fathers: and on Joas they executed shameful judgments.
25And departing they left him in diseases: and his servants rose up him, for revenge of the blood of the son of Joiada the priest, and they slew him in his bed, and he died: and they buried him in the city of David, but not in the tombs of the kings.