Daily Readings - Tue Sep 23 2025
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 the essence of community and perseverance in our faith journey. The first reading from Ezra recounts the challenges faced by the people of Judah as they sought to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem. Despite facing opposition, they persevered, supported by the decree of King Darius, and ultimately succeeded in completing the Temple. This story underscores the importance of standing firm in the face of adversity and trusting in God's providence. The second reading from Luke presents Jesus teaching about the true meaning of family. When informed that his mother and brothers were outside, Jesus expands the concept of family to include all those who hear and live by God's word, emphasizing that our spiritual family is defined by our commitment to faith.
Both readings highlight the importance of community and perseverance. In Ezra, the community comes together to rebuild the Temple, overcoming external obstacles through their collective effort and faith. In Luke, Jesus redefines family to include those who share a common spiritual purpose. These themes remind us that our faith is not isolated but is lived out within a community that supports and encourages us. Just as the Israelites worked together to rebuild the Temple, we too are called to build up the Body of Christ, supporting one another in living out our faith.
As we apply these readings to our daily lives, we are reminded to stand firm in our faith, even when faced with challenges. Like the Israelites, we may encounter obstacles, but with perseverance and trust in God, we can overcome them. Additionally, Jesus' teaching challenges us to think about how we define our spiritual family. Are we actively building relationships with others who share our commitment to God's word? Are we living in a way that reflects our identity as children of God? Let us strive to be part of a community that supports and encourages one another in living out our faith, just as the early Christians did. May we, like the Israelites, rebuild and restore our spiritual lives, and may we, like Jesus' true family, hear and do the word of God.