Daily Readings - Tue Sep 24 2019
Ezra
1Then Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in Babylonia, in the house of the archives where the documents were stored.6"Now therefore, Tattenai, governor of the province Beyond the River, Shethar-bozenai, and your associates the governors who are in the province Beyond the River, keep away.7Let the work on this house of God alone. Let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews rebuild this house of God on its site.8Moreover, I make a decree regarding what you shall do for these elders of the Jews for the rebuilding of this house of God. The cost is to be paid to these men in full and without delay from the royal revenue, the tribute of the province from Beyond the River.12May the God who has caused his name to dwell there overthrow any king or people who shall put out a hand to alter this, or to destroy this house of God that is in Jerusalem. I Darius make a decree; let it be done with all diligence."14And the elders of the Jews built and prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. They finished their building by decree of the God of Israel and by decree of Cyrus and Darius and Artaxerxes king of Persia;15and this house was finished on the third day of the month of Adar, in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king.16And the people of Israel, the priests and the Levites, and the rest of the returned exiles, celebrated the dedication of this house of God with joy.17They offered at the dedication of this house of God 100 bulls, 200 rams, 400 lambs, and as a sin offering for all Israel 12 male goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel.18And they set the priests in their divisions and the Levites in their divisions, for the service of God at Jerusalem, as it is written in the Book of Moses.19On the fourteenth day of the first month, the returned exiles kept the Passover.20For the priests and the Levites had purified themselves together; all of them were clean. So they slaughtered the Passover lamb for all the returned exiles, for their fellow priests, and for themselves.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two powerful narratives that invite us to reflect on faith, community, and commitment. The first reading from Ezra recounts the challenges faced by the Israelites as they rebuilt the Temple in Jerusalem after their exile. Despite opposition, they persevered, supported by King Darius, who recognized the importance of their spiritual mission. Their dedication culminated in a joyful celebration of the Temple's dedication and the Passover, symbolizing their renewed covenant with God.
The Gospel from Luke presents Jesus redefining family. When His mother and brothers arrived, He emphasized that His true family includes those who hear and act on God's word. This teaching challenges us to consider our spiritual family—those who share our commitment to living out faith.
These readings connect through themes of community and perseverance. The Israelites' determination to rebuild the Temple mirrors our own spiritual journeys, where obstacles are inevitable. Jesus' message reminds us that our true community is bound by faith, not just blood ties. In our daily lives, we are called to stay committed to our spiritual goals, just as the Israelites did, and to recognize our broader spiritual family.
May we draw strength from these stories, persevering in faith and embracing our role within the community of believers. Let us live out our faith with dedication and joy, just as the Israelites did, and may our actions reflect our commitment to God's word.