Daily Readings - Wed Oct 04 2023
Nehemiah
1In the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was brought for him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had not been sad in his presence before;2so the king asked me, "Why does your face look so sad when you are not ill? This can be nothing but sadness of heart." I was very much afraid,3but I said to the king, "May the king live forever! Why should my face not look sad when the city where my fathers are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?"4The king said to me, "What is it you want?" Then I prayed to the God of heaven,5and I answered the king, "If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my fathers are buried so that I can rebuild it."6Then the king, with the queen sitting beside him, asked me, "How long will your journey take, and when will you get back?" It pleased the king to send me; so I set a time.7I also said to him, "If it pleases the king, may I have letters to the governors of Trans-Euphrates, so that they will provide me safe-conduct until I arrive in Judah?8And may I have a letter to Asaph, keeper of the king's forest, so he will give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel by the temple and for the city wall and for the residence I will occupy?" And because the gracious hand of my God was upon me, the king granted my requests.
Luke
57As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go."58Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."59He said to another man, "Follow me." But the man replied, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father."60Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God."61Still another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good bye to my family."62Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God."
Sermon
The first reading from Nehemiah tells the story of a man who, despite his position of comfort and privilege as a cupbearer to King Artaxerxes, cannot ignore the suffering of his people. Nehemiah’s heart is heavy because the city of Jerusalem lies in ruins, its gates burned and its people scattered. When the king notices his sadness, Nehemiah seizes the moment to pray and then boldly asks for permission to return to Judea and rebuild the city. The king, moved by Nehemiah’s sincerity and faith, grants his request, even providing letters of support for his journey. This passage shows us the power of prayer, courage, and trust in God’s providence.
In the Gospel, Jesus encounters three individuals who express a desire to follow him, but each is held back by some attachment or excuse. Jesus’ responses are striking: he calls them to radical discipleship, insisting that following him must take precedence over even the most natural human obligations. To one, he says, “Let the dead bury their dead,” emphasizing that the call of the kingdom cannot wait. To another, he warns that looking back while plowing makes one unfit for the kingdom. These exchanges remind us that following Christ demands total commitment and a willingness to prioritize our relationship with him above all else.
Both readings invite us to reflect on our own response to God’s call in our lives. Like Nehemiah, we may face challenges or opportunities to serve others, but it requires courage and faith to act. Like the would-be followers in the Gospel, we may be tempted to delay or hesitate, letting worldly concerns hold us back. Today’s readings challenge us to trust in God’s plan, to pray boldly, and to embrace the sacrifices that come with living a life of faith. Let us ask ourselves: Am I willing to step out in faith, even when it feels uncomfortable or uncertain? Am I prioritizing my relationship with Christ above all else? May we, like Nehemiah, find the strength to act with courage and trust in God’s goodness.