Daily Readings - Mon Sep 20 2021
Ezra
1In the first year of Cyrus, king of the Persians, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus, king of the Persians, so that the word of the Lord from the mouth of Jeremiah would be fulfilled. And he sent out a voice, throughout his entire kingdom, and also in writing, saying2"Thus says Cyrus, the king of the Persians: The Lord, the God of heaven, has given all the kingdoms of the earth to me, and he himself has instructed me that I should build a house for him in Jerusalem, which is in Judea3Who among you is from his entire people? May his God be with him. Let him ascend to Jerusalem, which is in Judea, and let him build the house of the Lord, the God of Israel. He is the God who is in Jerusalem4And let all who remain, in all the places wherever they may live, assist him, each man from his place, with silver and gold, and goods and cattle, in addition to whatever they may offer voluntarily to the temple of God, which is in Jerusalem.5And the leaders of the fathers from Judah and from Benjamin, with the priests, and the Levites, and all those whose spirit was stirred by God, rose up, so that they might ascend to build the temple of the Lord, which was in Jerusalem6And all those who were all around assisted their hands with vessels of silver and gold, with goods and cattle, with equipment, in addition to whatever they had offered freely
Luke
16Now no one, lighting a candle, covers it with a container, or sets it under a bed. Instead, he places it on a lampstand, so that those who enter may see the light17For there is nothing secret, which will not be made clear, nor is there anything hidden, which will not be known and be brought into plain sight18Therefore, take care how you listen. For whoever has, it will be given to him; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken away from him.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on God’s providence and our responsibility to live as faithful stewards of His gifts. In the first reading from Ezra, we see how God moves the heart of Cyrus, a pagan king, to allow the Israelites to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple. This passage highlights God’s ability to work through unexpected means to fulfill His plan. The Israelites, now freed from exile, are called to collaborate in this sacred task, with each person contributing according to their ability. This moment marks a new beginning for God’s people, a sign of hope and renewal after a season of darkness.
In the Gospel, Jesus reminds us that the light of God’s truth cannot remain hidden. Using the image of a lamp, He teaches that our faith and the gifts we receive are meant to be shared openly with others. Jesus also warns us to listen carefully, for how we respond to God’s word will determine whether we grow in faith or lose even what we have. This is both a call to accountability and an encouragement to live transparently, allowing the light of Christ to shine through our words and actions.
Together, these readings challenge us to recognize that we, like the Israelites, are part of a larger story. God has entrusted us with unique gifts and talents, and we are called to use them for the building up of His kingdom. Whether through acts of service, sharing our faith, or simply living with integrity, we are to be visible signs of God’s presence in the world. Let us ask ourselves: Are we using our resources and talents to further God’s plan? Are we living in such a way that others can see the light of Christ in us? May we respond generously to God’s call, knowing that our efforts, no matter how small, contribute to something much greater than ourselves.