Daily Readings - Mon Sep 23 2019
Ezra
1Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying,2Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.3Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the LORD God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem.4And whosoever remaineth in any place where he sojourneth, let the men of his place help him with silver, and with gold, and with goods, and with beasts, beside the freewill offering for the house of God that is in Jerusalem.5Then rose up the chief of the fathers of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests, and the Levites, with all them whose spirit God had raised, to go up to build the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem.6And all they that were about them strengthened their hands with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, and with beasts, and with precious things, beside all that was willingly offered.
Luke
16No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light.17For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad.18Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of divine providence, openness, and the call to live as faithful stewards of God’s grace. In the first reading from Ezra, we hear the story of Cyrus, the Persian king, who, inspired by God, issues a decree allowing the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple. This passage reminds us that God’s plan is not confined by human boundaries; even those who do not know Him can be instruments of His will. The Israelites, stirred by God’s Spirit, respond with generosity and determination, demonstrating that faith requires action and collaboration in building up the community of believers.
In the Gospel, Jesus uses the image of a lamp to teach about the importance of living openly and authentically. He warns against hiding the light of faith, emphasizing that everything hidden will eventually be revealed. This teaching challenges us to examine how we live out our faith—whether we allow God’s light to shine through us or whether we keep it concealed. Jesus also reminds us that our response to His word determines whether we will grow in faith or lose even what we think we have. This is a call to attentiveness and openness to God’s Word in our daily lives.
These readings are connected by the theme of openness and responsiveness to God’s plan. In Ezra, we see the Israelites responding to God’s call with courage and generosity. In Luke, Jesus calls us to live transparently, allowing the light of faith to guide us and others. In our daily lives, this means being willing to step out in faith, to share our gifts and talents, and to trust in God’s providence. Let us ask ourselves: Are we hiding the light of Christ, or are we letting it shine for others to see? May we, like the Israelites and the early disciples, respond generously to God’s call and live as open vessels for His grace.