Daily Readings - Wed Sep 22 2021
Ezra
5Then, at the evening sacrifice, I rose from my self-abasement, with my tunic and cloak torn, and fell on my knees with my hands spread out to the LORD my God6and prayed: "O my God, I am too ashamed and disgraced to lift up my face to you, my God, because our sins are higher than our heads and our guilt has reached to the heavens.7From the days of our forefathers until now, our guilt has been great. Because of our sins, we and our kings and our priests have been subjected to the sword and captivity, to pillage and humiliation at the hand of foreign kings, as it is today.8"But now, for a brief moment, the LORD our God has been gracious in leaving us a remnant and giving us a firm place in his sanctuary, and so our God gives light to our eyes and a little relief in our bondage.9Though we are slaves, our God has not deserted us in our bondage. He has shown us kindness in the sight of the kings of Persia: He has granted us new life to rebuild the house of our God and repair its ruins, and he has given us a wall of protection in Judah and Jerusalem.
Luke
1When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases,2and he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.3He told them: "Take nothing for the journey--no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra tunic.4Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town.5If people do not welcome you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave their town, as a testimony against them."6So they set out and went from village to village, preaching the gospel and healing people everywhere.
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.