Daily Readings - Wed Sep 27 2017

First Reading - Ezra 9.5-9

⁵And at the evening sacrifice, I rose up from my affliction, and, having torn my cloak and my tunic, I fell to my knees, and I reached out my hands to the Lord, my God⁶And I said: "My God, I am confounded and ashamed to lift up my face to you. For our iniquities have been multiplied over our heads, and our offenses have increased, even up to heaven⁷from the days of our fathers. But also, we ourselves have sinned gravely, even to this day. And for our iniquities, we ourselves, and our kings and our priests, have been delivered into the hands of the kings of the lands, and to the sword, and to captivity, and to plunder, and to confusion of face, just as it is also in this day⁸And now, to a small extent and for a moment, our petition has been made with the Lord our God, so that they may leave us a remnant, and so that a secure place in his holy land may be given to us, and so that our God may illuminate our eyes, and may give us a little life in our servitude⁹For we are servants, yet in our servitude our God has not forsaken us, but he has inclined mercy upon us in the sight of the king of the Persians, so that he may give us life, and may raise up the house of our God, and repair its desolations, and give us a hedge in Judah and Jerusalem

Gospel - Luke 9.1-6

Luke

Chapter 9

¹Then calling together the twelve Apostles, he gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases²And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the infirm³And he said to them: "You should take nothing for the journey, neither staff, nor traveling bag, nor bread, nor money; and you should not have two tunics⁴And into whatever house you shall enter, lodge there, and do not move away from there⁵And whoever will not have received you, upon departing from that city, shake off even the dust on your feet, as a testimony against them.⁶And going forth, they traveled around, through the towns, evangelizing and curing everywhere

Sermon

In today's readings, we encounter two profound themes that guide us in our spiritual journey: the power of humble confession and the call to trust in God's providence. First, Ezra's prayer in the First Reading is a heartfelt confession on behalf of his people, acknowledging their sins and expressing deep regret. This passage, set in the post-exilic period, reflects the Israelites' return to Jerusalem and their efforts to rebuild their community. Ezra's prayer underscores the importance of humility and recognition of our failings, inviting us to approach God with sincerity and contrition. In the Gospel, Luke shares the story of Jesus sending out the Twelve Apostles, equipping them to preach and heal. Jesus' instructions to travel lightly and trust in God's provision highlight the theme of reliance on divine grace. This mission is a pivotal moment in the early Church, demonstrating Jesus' trust in His disciples and their commitment to spreading His message. These readings connect through their emphasis on trust and humility. Ezra's confession shows trust in God's mercy, while the apostles' mission exemplifies trust in God's provision. Together, they remind us to approach life with humility, acknowledging our limitations, and to trust in God's faithfulness. In our daily lives, this means embracing humility and trusting in God's plan. Just as the apostles depended on God's providence, we too can face life's challenges with faith, knowing that our true strength comes from Him. Let us, like Ezra, confess our sins with sincerity and, like the apostles, step out in boldness, trusting in God's guidance and mercy.