Daily Readings - Mon Sep 23 2019
Ezra
1In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing:2"Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.3Whoever is among you of all his people, may his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and rebuild the house of the LORD, the God of Israel--he is the God who is in Jerusalem.4And let each survivor, in whatever place he sojourns, be assisted by the men of his place with silver and gold, with goods and with beasts, besides freewill offerings for the house of God that is in Jerusalem."5Then rose up the heads of the fathers' houses of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and the Levites, everyone whose spirit God had stirred to go up to rebuild the house of the LORD that is in Jerusalem.6And all who were about them aided them with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, with beasts, and with costly wares, besides all that was freely offered.
Luke
16"No one after lighting a lamp covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light.17For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light.18Take care then how you hear, for to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he thinks that he has will be taken away."
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of divine providence, openness, and the call to live as faithful stewards of God’s grace. In the first reading from Ezra, we hear the story of Cyrus, the Persian king, who, inspired by God, issues a decree allowing the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple. This passage reminds us that God’s plan is not confined by human boundaries; even those who do not know Him can be instruments of His will. The Israelites, stirred by God’s Spirit, respond with generosity and determination, demonstrating that faith requires action and collaboration in building up the community of believers.
In the Gospel, Jesus uses the image of a lamp to teach about the importance of living openly and authentically. He warns against hiding the light of faith, emphasizing that everything hidden will eventually be revealed. This teaching challenges us to examine how we live out our faith—whether we allow God’s light to shine through us or whether we keep it concealed. Jesus also reminds us that our response to His word determines whether we will grow in faith or lose even what we think we have. This is a call to attentiveness and openness to God’s Word in our daily lives.
These readings are connected by the theme of openness and responsiveness to God’s plan. In Ezra, we see the Israelites responding to God’s call with courage and generosity. In Luke, Jesus calls us to live transparently, allowing the light of faith to guide us and others. In our daily lives, this means being willing to step out in faith, to share our gifts and talents, and to trust in God’s providence. Let us ask ourselves: Are we hiding the light of Christ, or are we letting it shine for others to see? May we, like the Israelites and the early disciples, respond generously to God’s call and live as open vessels for His grace.