Daily Readings - Wed Sep 25 2019

⁵And at the evening sacrifice I rose from my fasting, with my garment and my cloak torn, and fell upon my knees and spread out my hands to the LORD my God,⁶saying:"O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift my face to you, my God, for our iniquities have risen higher than our heads, and our guilt has mounted up to the heavens.⁷From the days of our fathers to this day we have been in great guilt. And for our iniquities we, our kings, and our priests have been given into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, to plundering, and to utter shame, as it is today.⁸But now for a brief moment favor has been shown by the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant and to give us a secure hold within his holy place, that our God may brighten our eyes and grant us a little reviving in our slavery.⁹For we are slaves. Yet our God has not forsaken us in our slavery, but has extended to us his steadfast love before the kings of Persia, to grant us some reviving to set up the house of our God, to repair its ruins, and to give us protection in Judea and Jerusalem.

Luke

Chapter 9

¹And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases,²and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal.³And he said to them, "Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not have two tunics.⁴And whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart.⁵And wherever they do not receive you, when you leave that town shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them."⁶And they departed and went through the villages, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.

Sermon

In today's readings, we encounter two profound reflections on trust and faith. The first reading from Ezra 9:5-9 presents a heartfelt prayer of confession, where Ezra acknowledges the sins of his people and humbly recognizes God's enduring mercy. This passage, set in the post-exilic period, highlights the Israelites' efforts to rebuild their lives and faith after captivity. Ezra's prayer underscores the importance of humility and trust in God's providence, despite past failures. The Gospel from Luke 9:1-6 shifts our focus to Jesus sending out the twelve apostles, empowering them to heal and preach. Jesus instructs them to travel lightly, relying solely on God's provision. This mission emphasizes trust and dependence on divine grace, teaching the apostles to embrace simplicity and faith. The act of shaking dust off their feet serves as a testament to those who reject the message, illustrating the consequences of turning away from God. Both readings beautifully intertwine, reminding us of the necessity of trusting God in all circumstances. Ezra's confession and the apostles' mission call us to live with humility and faith, recognizing our dependence on God's grace. As we navigate our daily lives, let us embrace this trust, allowing it to guide our actions and decisions. May we, like the apostles, be faithful witnesses, trusting in God's providence and living with hearts open to His will.