Daily Readings - Wed Sep 25 2019

⁵And at the evening sacrifice I arose up from my heaviness; and having rent my garment and my mantle, I fell upon my knees, and spread out my hands unto the LORD my God,⁶And said, O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God: for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens.⁷Since the days of our fathers have we been in a great trespass unto this day; and for our iniquities have we, our kings, and our priests, been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, and to a spoil, and to confusion of face, as it is this day.⁸And now for a little space grace hath been shewed from the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage.⁹For we were bondmen; yet our God hath not forsaken us in our bondage, but hath extended mercy unto us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us a reviving, to set up the house of our God, and to repair the desolations thereof, and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem.

Luke

Chapter 9

¹Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.²And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.³And he said unto them, Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece.⁴And whatsoever house ye enter into, there abide, and thence depart.⁵And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them.⁶And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing every where.

Sermon

In today's readings, we encounter two profound reflections on trust and faith. The first reading from Ezra 9:5-9 presents a heartfelt prayer of confession, where Ezra acknowledges the sins of his people and humbly recognizes God's enduring mercy. This passage, set in the post-exilic period, highlights the Israelites' efforts to rebuild their lives and faith after captivity. Ezra's prayer underscores the importance of humility and trust in God's providence, despite past failures. The Gospel from Luke 9:1-6 shifts our focus to Jesus sending out the twelve apostles, empowering them to heal and preach. Jesus instructs them to travel lightly, relying solely on God's provision. This mission emphasizes trust and dependence on divine grace, teaching the apostles to embrace simplicity and faith. The act of shaking dust off their feet serves as a testament to those who reject the message, illustrating the consequences of turning away from God. Both readings beautifully intertwine, reminding us of the necessity of trusting God in all circumstances. Ezra's confession and the apostles' mission call us to live with humility and faith, recognizing our dependence on God's grace. As we navigate our daily lives, let us embrace this trust, allowing it to guide our actions and decisions. May we, like the apostles, be faithful witnesses, trusting in God's providence and living with hearts open to His will.