Daily Readings - Wed Sep 27 2023

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 powerful moments of surrender and trust in God’s providence. The first reading from Ezra captures a moment of deep humility and repentance. Ezra, a leader of the Jewish people after their return from exile, confesses the sins of his people before God. He acknowledges their failures and expresses shame, yet he also recognizes God’s mercy and faithfulness. Ezra’s prayer reminds us that true repentance involves not only acknowledging our sins but also trusting in God’s steadfast love and forgiveness. The reading invites us to reflect on our own relationship with God, encouraging us to approach him with humility and openness, even in the face of our shortcomings. The Gospel reading from Luke shifts our focus to Jesus sending out the Twelve Apostles to preach the kingdom of God and heal the sick. Jesus instructs them to travel lightly, without extra provisions, trusting that God will provide for their needs. This passage highlights the importance of detachment and reliance on divine providence. The apostles are called to be messengers of God’s love and mercy, and their mission is not about self-sufficiency but about trusting in God’s plan. This teaching challenges us to examine our own lives: Do we trust God enough to let go of our need for control? Are we willing to step out in faith, even when the path ahead is uncertain? Both readings remind us that our lives are not our own, but are part of a larger story of God’s work in the world. Ezra’s prayer teaches us to approach God with humility and gratitude, while the Gospel calls us to live with courage and trust, knowing that God will provide. As we go about our daily lives, let us strive to imitate this surrender and trust. May we, like the apostles, embrace our mission to share God’s love, and may we, like Ezra, humbly acknowledge our dependence on God’s mercy. In doing so, we open ourselves to the transformative power of his grace, allowing him to work through us in ways we cannot yet imagine.