June 25, 2006, Thursday of the 12th week in ordinary time.

A reading from the second book of kings.

Jehoia Keen was 18 years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem.

His mother's name was Nehushta, daughter of El Nathan of Jerusalem. He did evil in the sight of the Lord,

just as his forbearers had done. At that time, the officials of Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon,

attacked Jerusalem, and the city came under siege. Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, himself

arrived at the city while his servants were

besieging it. Then Jehoiakin, king of Judah, together with his mother, his ministers, officers,

and functionaries, surrendered to the king of Babylon, who in the eighth year of his reign took

him captive. And he carried off all the treasures of the temple of the Lord and those of the palace, and

broke up all the gold utensils that Solomon, King of Israel, had provided in the temple

of the Lord, as the Lord had foretold.

He deported all Jerusalem, all the officers and men of the army, 10,000 in number, and

all the craftsmen and smiths. None were left among the people of the land, except the poor.

He deported Jehoia Keen to Babylon, and also led captive from Jerusalem to Babylon,

the king's mother and wives, his functionaries,

and the chief men of the land. The King of Babylon also led captive to Babylon all

7,000 men of the army, and a thousand craftsmen and smiths, all of them trained soldiers.

In place of Jehoia King, the King of Babylon appointed his uncle Matinea king and changed his name to Zedekiah.

The word of the Lord.

The response to royal psalm. The response is, for the glory of your name, O Lord, deliver us.

O God, the nations have come into your inheritance.

...