Daily Readings - Wed Oct 04 2017
First Reading - Nehemiah 2.1-8
Nehemiah
And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that wine was before him: and I took up the wine, and gave it unto the king. Now I had not been beforetime sad in his presence.Wherefore the king said unto me, Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not sick? this is nothing else but sorrow of heart. Then I was very sore afraid,And said unto the king, Let the king live for ever: why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers' sepulchres, lieth waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire?Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven.And I said unto the king, If it please the king, and if thy servant have found favour in thy sight, that thou wouldest send me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers' sepulchres, that I may build it.And the king said unto me, (the queen also sitting by him,) For how long shall thy journey be? and when wilt thou return? So it pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time.Moreover I said unto the king, If it please the king, let letters be given me to the governors beyond the river, that they may convey me over till I come into Judah;And a letter unto Asaph the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the palace which appertained to the house, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall enter into. And the king granted me, according to the good hand of my God upon me.
Gospel - Luke 9.57-62
Luke
And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on courage, trust, and commitment. In the first reading, Nehemiah, a cupbearer to the Persian king, finds himself in a moment of great opportunity. Seeing the sadness in Nehemiah’s heart, the king asks him what troubles him. Nehemiah, with great courage, shares his sorrow over the desolation of Jerusalem and its burned gates. Trusting in God’s providence, he asks the king for permission to return to Judea to rebuild the city. The king, moved by Nehemiah’s sincerity and the favor of God, grants his request. This passage reminds us that even in the face of great challenges, trusting in God’s plan and acting with courage can lead to remarkable outcomes.
In the Gospel, Jesus teaches his disciples about the cost of following him. When someone offers to follow Jesus wherever he goes, Jesus responds by highlighting the sacrifices involved. He then addresses two other would-be followers, emphasizing that true discipleship requires prioritizing the kingdom of God above all else. These exchanges remind us that following Christ is not a part-time commitment but a way of life that demands our full dedication. Jesus’ words challenge us to examine our own priorities and to ensure that we are not letting worldly concerns distract us from our ultimate goal of living for God.
Both readings call us to reflect on our own commitment to God and to the mission He has entrusted to us. Like Nehemiah, we are called to trust in God’s providence and to act courageously, even when the task seems daunting. Like the disciples, we are reminded that following Christ requires sacrifice and a willingness to put God first in all aspects of our lives. As we go about our daily lives, let us ask ourselves: Am I trusting in God’s plan? Am I putting God first, even when it is difficult? May we, like Nehemiah and the disciples, embrace the challenges of living out our faith with courage, trust, and unwavering commitment.