Daily Readings - Mon Sep 23 2019
Ezra
1In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah, the LORD moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and to put it in writing:2"This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: "'The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah.3Anyone of his people among you-may his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem in Judah and build the temple of the LORD, the God of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem.4And the people of any place where survivors may now be living are to provide him with silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with freewill offerings for the temple of God in Jerusalem.'"5Then the family heads of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and Levites-everyone whose heart God had moved-prepared to go up and build the house of the LORD in Jerusalem.6All their neighbors assisted them with articles of silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with valuable gifts, in addition to all the freewill offerings.
Luke
16"No one lights a lamp and hides it in a jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, he puts it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light.17For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open.18Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken from him."
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.