The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to celebrate the Grace events of our journey as a guiding light to fullness of life for ourselves and the people in our environment.
The reading from the Book of Ezra describes the end of the Babylonian Captivity.
* [1:1] In the first year of Cyrus: the first regnal year of Cyrus was 539 B.C., but his first year as ruler of Babylon, after the conquest of that city, was 538 B.C., the year in which he issued an edict, replicated on the famous Cyrus cylinder, permitting the repatriation of peoples deported by the Babylonians.
* [1:2] The God of heaven: this title, used as in 7:12, 21, 23, corresponds to a title of the Zoroastrian supreme deity Ahura Mazda, though it is not certain that Cyrus was a Zoroastrian.
* [1:5] Heads of ancestral houses: the ancestral house was the basic organizational unit of the postexilic community, consisting of an extended kinship group claiming descent from a common ancestor. The patriarchs of these units played an important role in civic government. (Ezra, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 126 praises a Harvest of Joy.
* [Psalm 126] A lament probably sung shortly after Israel’s return from exile. The people rejoice that they are in Zion (Ps 126:1–3) but mere presence in the holy city is not enough; they must pray for the prosperity and the fertility of the land (Ps 126:4). The last verses are probably an oracle of promise: the painful work of sowing will be crowned with life (Ps 126:5–6). (Psalms, PSALM 126 | USCCB, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus shares sayings about a Lamp under a Jar.
* [8:16–18] These sayings continue the theme of responding to the word of God. Those who hear the word must become a light to others (Lk 8:16); even the mysteries of the kingdom that have been made known to the disciples (Lk 8:9–10) must come to light (Lk 8:17); a generous and persevering response to the word of God leads to a still more perfect response to the word. (Luke, CHAPTER 8 | USCCB, n.d.)
Tom Quinn notes that King Cyrus of Persia overcame the Babylonians. He not only set the Jewish nation free at the direction of the Lord, the God of heaven, "but encouraged them to return home to rebuild their Temple in honor of “the God of Heaven.” He even contributed to the funds for rebuilding the Temple.
Stones and mortar will never be able to convey God’s love for us as well as the life and words of Jesus. In today’s gospel Jesus tells us to let our light shine. Put it on a lampstand and let everyone see it. Whether our lampstand is a splendid and precious temple, a cathedral, or our own lives and work, our light will shine and encourage others. If we have [faith] more will be given. If we do not have [faith] and only pretend for the benefit of others, this charade will crumble; we will be left with nothing. Even though Jesus asks us to emulate the example that he gave us and to influence others through our good works and actions, it is important to avoid hypocrisy. Let your light shine but be sincere in your actions and words. I found that Matthew 6:1-6 was a great aid in understanding Jesus’ teaching on insincerity and hypocrisy. We may even shed our light on others if we “...go into our room, close the door, and pray to our Father, who is unseen.” (Quinn, 2023)
Don Schwager quotes “The Word of God is like a lamp to guide us,” by Origen of Alexandria (185-254 AD).
"Scripture does not say this about a tangible lamp but about a comprehensible one. One does not 'light' the lamp and conceal it 'with a vessel' or put it 'under a bed, but on the lamp stand' within himself. The vessels of the house are the powers of the soul. The bed is the body. 'Those who go in' are those who hear the teacher... He calls the holy church a 'lamp stand.' By its proclamation, the Word of God gives light to all who are in this world and illuminates those in the house with the rays of the truth, filling the minds of all with divine knowledge. (excerpt from FRAGMENTS ON LUKE 120, 122) (Schwager, 2022)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Luke 8:16-18 comments that hearing is more than a function of the mind; it’s also a function of the heart. So take the time to ponder God’s word.
In the end, hearing is more than what you can do yourself. It’s an action of God. As you pay attention and ponder, God can change your heart. He can teach you to see the world as he does. So let’s listen to God’s word today. Let’s contemplate what he might be saying to us through it. Most of all, let’s open our hearts to allow God to change us, make us fruitful, and draw us close to himself.
“Jesus, teach me how to hear the words you speak to me so that my heart can change.” (Meditation on Luke 8:16-18, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler notes that King Cyrus of Persia conquered the Babylonians and allowed the captured people, including the Jews, to return to their homeland. The short sayings in the Gospel declare that our works give witness to who we are. Our knowledge of everything, after death, will move us to heal brokenness. Friar Jude reminds us that our faith grows as we trust in God.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, comments that minister and author Howard Thurman (1899–1981) stressed the importance of coming face to face with God. Spending time with Quakers provided Thurman with sacred space to experience his oneness with God and other people. It proved to be a doorway to both action and contemplation. Author Lerita Coleman Brown writes:
For more than four hundred years, a vibrant Quaker commitment to the mystical practice of silence has persisted…. Staunch promoters of the “still small voice,” Quakers believe that everyone carries the divine light of God within them and that we are all equal regardless of title or socioeconomic status. They believe that God speaks ceaselessly to us and that quietness and stillness are prerequisites for hearing the soft, gentle, wordless communication of God. Yet for Quakers, being contemplative is not enough; they assume that actions emerging from the silence should facilitate the end of social injustices and the creation of a more benevolent world. As advocates of peace and equality, many Quakers participated in the Underground Railroad, assisting thousands in escaping slavery. (Rohr, 2022)
We ponder our experience of Word, light, and silence and the Spirit inviting us to attend to the “still small voice” that connects us to Divine Truth.
References
Ezra, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved September 25, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/ezra/1?1
Luke, CHAPTER 8 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved September 25, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/8?16
Meditation on Luke 8:16-18. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved September 25, 2023, from https://wau.org/meditations/2023/09/25/791563/
Psalms, PSALM 126 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved September 25, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/126?0
Quinn, T. (2023, September 25). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved September 25, 2023, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/092523.html
Rohr, R. (2022, October 2). A Sense of Presence. CAC Daily Meditations 2023. Retrieved September 25, 2023, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/a-sense-of-presence/
Schwager, D. (2022, October 2). Every Secret Shall Come to Light. Daily Scripture net. Retrieved September 25, 2023, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2023&date=sep25
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