Daily Readings - Wed Oct 04 2023
Nehemiah
1In the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was before him, I took up the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had not been sad in his presence.2And the king said to me, "Why is your face sad, seeing you are not sick? This is nothing but sadness of the heart." Then I was very much afraid.3I said to the king, "Let the king live forever! Why should not my face be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers' graves, lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?"4Then the king said to me, "What are you requesting?" So I prayed to the God of heaven.5And I said to the king, "If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers' graves, that I may rebuild it."6And the king said to me (the queen sitting beside him), "How long will you be gone, and when will you return?" So it pleased the king to send me when I had given him a time.7And I said to the king, "If it pleases the king, let letters be given me to the governors of the province Beyond the River, that they may let me pass through until I come to Judah,8and a letter to Asaph, the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the fortress of the temple, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall occupy." And the king granted me what I asked, for the good hand of my God was upon me.
Luke
57As they were going along the road, someone said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go."58And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head."59To another he said, "Follow me." But he said, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father."60And Jesus said to him, "Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God."61Yet another said, "I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home."62Jesus said to him, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God."
Sermon
The first reading from Nehemiah tells the story of a man who, despite his position of comfort and privilege as a cupbearer to King Artaxerxes, cannot ignore the suffering of his people. Nehemiah’s heart is heavy because the city of Jerusalem lies in ruins, its gates burned and its people scattered. When the king notices his sadness, Nehemiah seizes the moment to pray and then boldly asks for permission to return to Judea and rebuild the city. The king, moved by Nehemiah’s sincerity and faith, grants his request, even providing letters of support for his journey. This passage shows us the power of prayer, courage, and trust in God’s providence.
In the Gospel, Jesus encounters three individuals who express a desire to follow him, but each is held back by some attachment or excuse. Jesus’ responses are striking: he calls them to radical discipleship, insisting that following him must take precedence over even the most natural human obligations. To one, he says, “Let the dead bury their dead,” emphasizing that the call of the kingdom cannot wait. To another, he warns that looking back while plowing makes one unfit for the kingdom. These exchanges remind us that following Christ demands total commitment and a willingness to prioritize our relationship with him above all else.
Both readings invite us to reflect on our own response to God’s call in our lives. Like Nehemiah, we may face challenges or opportunities to serve others, but it requires courage and faith to act. Like the would-be followers in the Gospel, we may be tempted to delay or hesitate, letting worldly concerns hold us back. Today’s readings challenge us to trust in God’s plan, to pray boldly, and to embrace the sacrifices that come with living a life of faith. Let us ask ourselves: Am I willing to step out in faith, even when it feels uncomfortable or uncertain? Am I prioritizing my relationship with Christ above all else? May we, like Nehemiah, find the strength to act with courage and trust in God’s goodness.