Daily Readings - Mon Sep 25 2023
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
In today's readings, we encounter two powerful narratives that invite us to reflect on God's revelation and our response to it. The first reading from Ezra recounts the decree of Cyrus, the Persian king, who, inspired by God, allows the Israelites to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple. This passage highlights God's providence and the fulfillment of prophecy, as Cyrus, a pagan ruler, becomes an instrument of divine will. The Israelites, sensing God's call, rise to the challenge, supported by their neighbors, to restore the sacred place of worship.
In the Gospel, Luke presents Jesus teaching about the importance of openness and attentive listening. Using the metaphor of a candle, Jesus emphasizes that light is meant to be visible, not hidden. He warns that our response to God's word determines whether we will receive more or lose what we have. This teaching underscores the responsibility that comes with hearing and living according to God's truth.
These readings remind us that God's work is not hidden but revealed in history and in our lives. Like the Israelites, we are called to respond to God's initiatives with faith and courage. And like the listeners in Luke's Gospel, we must be attentive and open to the light of God's word, allowing it to guide and transform us. May we, too, be vessels of God's light, living with transparency and fidelity, so that His presence may shine through us in the world.