Daily Readings - Wed Sep 24 2025

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 expressions of faith and trust in God. The first reading from Ezra 9:5-9 presents Ezra’s heartfelt prayer, acknowledging the sins of his people and expressing deep humility. Ezra recognizes the mercy of God, who, despite their transgressions, has allowed a remnant to survive and the Temple to be rebuilt. This passage underscores themes of repentance, collective guilt, and trust in divine mercy. 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 on the kindness of others, and to move on if their message is rejected. This passage emphasizes trust in God’s providence, simplicity, and bold missionary work, highlighting the importance of faith and humility in spreading the Kingdom of God. Both readings invite us to reflect on our trust in God. Like Ezra, we must acknowledge our sins and humbly seek God’s mercy. Like the apostles, we are called to live simply and trust in God’s providence as we share our faith with others. In our daily lives, let us embrace humility, acknowledge our shortcomings, and trust in God’s grace. May we, like the apostles, be bold in our faith, living with simplicity and reliance on God, spreading His love and mercy to all we meet.