Daily Readings - Wed Sep 22 2021
Ezra
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
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
The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of humility, trust in God, and the call to mission. In the first reading from Ezra, we encounter a moment of profound repentance and confession. Ezra, a leader of the post-exilic Jewish community, humbly acknowledges the sins of his people before God. He expresses deep sorrow for their failures, recognizing that their suffering and exile were consequences of their disobedience. Yet, even in the midst of affliction, Ezra holds onto hope, trusting that God’s mercy and faithfulness can restore and renew His people. This passage reminds us that true humility involves acknowledging our limitations and sins, while also trusting in God’s grace and providence.
In the Gospel, Jesus sends out the Twelve Apostles with a radical mission. He instructs them to preach the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick, but He also tells them to take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no money, not even an extra tunic. This command is a call to complete trust in God’s providence. The Apostles are to rely not on their own resources but on the generosity of those they encounter. This teaching challenges us to let go of our attachment to material security and to embrace a life of simplicity and faith. It also reminds us that our mission as disciples is not about self-sufficiency but about dependence on God and openness to the needs of others.
Both readings encourage us to live with humility and trust in God. Ezra’s prayer shows us that acknowledging our sins and limitations is the first step toward healing and restoration. The Gospel, on the other hand, calls us to step out in faith, trusting that God will provide for us as we serve others. In our daily lives, we are invited to embrace these virtues: to humbly recognize our need for God and to trust Him as we carry out our own mission of spreading love and hope to the world. Let us ask for the grace to live with humility and faith, knowing that God’s mercy and providence are always at work in our lives.