Daily Readings - Tue Sep 23 2025
Ezra
4Therefore, it happened that the people of the land impeded the hands of the people of Judah, and they troubled them in building5Then they hired counselors against them, so that they might argue against their plan during all the days of Cyrus, king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius, king of the Persians
1Then king Darius instructed, and they searched in the library of books that were deposited in Babylon6Now therefore, let Tattenai, the governor of the region which is beyond the river, Shetharbozenai, and your counselors, the rulers who are beyond the river, withdraw far away from them7and let this temple of God be released to the governor of the Jews and to their elders, so that they may build that house of God in its place8Moreover, it has been instructed by me as to what ought to be done by those priests of the Jews, so that the house of God may be built, specifically, that from the king’s treasury, that is, from the tribute which is taken from the region beyond the river, the expenses shall be scrupulously given to those men, so that the work may not be impeded12So then, may the God who has caused his name to live there destroy any kingdoms or people who would extend their hand to fight against or to destroy that house of God, which is in Jerusalem. I, Darius, have established the decree, which I wish to be fulfilled scrupulously.14Then the elders of the Jews were building and prospering, in accord with the prophecy of Haggai, the prophet, and Zechariah, the son of Iddo. And they built and constructed by the order of the God of Israel, and by the order of Cyrus and Darius, as well as Artaxerxes, the kings of the Persians15And they completed this house of God on the third day of the month of Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of king Darius16Then the sons of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the remainder of the sons of the transmigration celebrated the dedication of the house of God with gladness17And they offered, for the dedication of the house of God, one hundred calves, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs, and, as a sin offering for all of Israel, twelve he-goats from among the goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel18And they appointed the priests into their divisions, and the Levites into their turns, over the works of God in Jerusalem, just as it was written in the book of Moses19Then the sons of Israel of the transmigration kept the Passover, on the fourteenth day of the first month20For the priests and Levites had been purified as one. All were cleansed in order to immolate the Passover for all the sons of the transmigration, and for their brothers, the priests, and for themselves
Luke
19Then his mother and brothers came to him; but they were not able to go to him because of the crowd20And it was reported to him, "Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you.21And in response, he said to them, "My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two powerful narratives that invite us to reflect on the essence of community and perseverance in our faith journey. The first reading from Ezra recounts the challenges faced by the people of Judah as they sought to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem. Despite facing opposition, they persevered, supported by the decree of King Darius, and ultimately succeeded in completing the Temple. This story underscores the importance of standing firm in the face of adversity and trusting in God's providence. The second reading from Luke presents Jesus teaching about the true meaning of family. When informed that his mother and brothers were outside, Jesus expands the concept of family to include all those who hear and live by God's word, emphasizing that our spiritual family is defined by our commitment to faith.
Both readings highlight the importance of community and perseverance. In Ezra, the community comes together to rebuild the Temple, overcoming external obstacles through their collective effort and faith. In Luke, Jesus redefines family to include those who share a common spiritual purpose. These themes remind us that our faith is not isolated but is lived out within a community that supports and encourages us. Just as the Israelites worked together to rebuild the Temple, we too are called to build up the Body of Christ, supporting one another in living out our faith.
As we apply these readings to our daily lives, we are reminded to stand firm in our faith, even when faced with challenges. Like the Israelites, we may encounter obstacles, but with perseverance and trust in God, we can overcome them. Additionally, Jesus' teaching challenges us to think about how we define our spiritual family. Are we actively building relationships with others who share our commitment to God's word? Are we living in a way that reflects our identity as children of God? Let us strive to be part of a community that supports and encourages one another in living out our faith, just as the early Christians did. May we, like the Israelites, rebuild and restore our spiritual lives, and may we, like Jesus' true family, hear and do the word of God.