Daily Readings - Wed Sep 27 2023

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 powerful moments of surrender and trust in God’s providence. The first reading from Ezra captures a moment of deep humility and repentance. Ezra, a leader of the Jewish people after their return from exile, confesses the sins of his people before God. He acknowledges their failures and expresses shame, yet he also recognizes God’s mercy and faithfulness. Ezra’s prayer reminds us that true repentance involves not only acknowledging our sins but also trusting in God’s steadfast love and forgiveness. The reading invites us to reflect on our own relationship with God, encouraging us to approach him with humility and openness, even in the face of our shortcomings. The Gospel reading from Luke shifts our focus to Jesus sending out the Twelve Apostles to preach the kingdom of God and heal the sick. Jesus instructs them to travel lightly, without extra provisions, trusting that God will provide for their needs. This passage highlights the importance of detachment and reliance on divine providence. The apostles are called to be messengers of God’s love and mercy, and their mission is not about self-sufficiency but about trusting in God’s plan. This teaching challenges us to examine our own lives: Do we trust God enough to let go of our need for control? Are we willing to step out in faith, even when the path ahead is uncertain? Both readings remind us that our lives are not our own, but are part of a larger story of God’s work in the world. Ezra’s prayer teaches us to approach God with humility and gratitude, while the Gospel calls us to live with courage and trust, knowing that God will provide. As we go about our daily lives, let us strive to imitate this surrender and trust. May we, like the apostles, embrace our mission to share God’s love, and may we, like Ezra, humbly acknowledge our dependence on God’s mercy. In doing so, we open ourselves to the transformative power of his grace, allowing him to work through us in ways we cannot yet imagine.