The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to begin again our mission as disciples of Christ as we imagine the situation facing Ezra and Tobit in the Hebrew Testament to rebuild the community of the people of God in Jerusalem.
Gratitude and Life
The reading from the Book of Ezra is a Penitential Prayer.
* [9:6–15] The prayer attributed to Ezra is a communal confession of sin, of a kind characteristic of the Second Temple period (cf. Neh 9:6–37; Dn 9:4–19; 1QS 1:4–2:1), but adapted to the present situation.1
The response from Tobit gives thanksgiving to God.
* [13:1–18] Tobit’s hymn of praise is divided into two parts. The first part (vv. 1–8) is a song of praise that echoes themes from the psalms; the second (vv. 9–18) is addressed to Jerusalem in the style of those prophets who spoke of a new and ideal Jerusalem (Is 60; cf. Rev 21). Joyful praise: words for joy and gladness occur throughout this prayer (vv. 1, 7, 10, 11, 13, 14, 16, 18).2
In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus outlines the Mission of the Twelve.
* [9:1–6] Armed with the power and authority that Jesus himself has been displaying in the previous episodes, the Twelve are now sent out to continue the work that Jesus has been performing throughout his Galilean ministry: (1) proclaiming the kingdom (Lk 4:43; 8:1); (2) exorcising demons (Lk 4:33–37, 41; 8:26–39) and (3) healing the sick (Lk 4:38–40; 5:12–16, 17–26; 6:6–10; 7:1–10, 17, 22; Lk 8:40–56).3
Larry Gillick, S.J. comments that we go from a then, a past, into a now influenced by everything and everyone who formed that, then. Friendships, conversations, liturgies and prayer all move us form into the “for'' and we cannot shake off those pasts as if they never happened. The Apostles had to remember and had to be comforted so as to be persons of healing and presence.
I am going from writing this, here in my room, over to class and a bit of teaching. I will try to recall my time preparing to write and my time of being with you and Him. Go! My going to a new then will be influenced by all that has been with me during these nows. 4
Don Schwager quotes “Jesus gave power and authority to his apostles,” by Cyril of Alexandria (376-444 AD).
"The grace bestowed upon the holy apostles is worthy of all admiration. But the bountifulness of the Giver surpasses all praise and admiration. He gives them, as I said, his own glory. They receive authority over the evil spirits. They reduce to nothing the pride of the devil that was so highly exalted and arrogant. They render ineffectual the demon's wickedness. By the might and efficacy of the Holy Spirit, burning them as if they were on fire, they make the devil come forth with groans and weeping from those whom he had possessed... He glorified his disciples, therefore, by giving them authority and power over the evil spirits and over sicknesses. Did he honor them without reason and make them famous without any logical cause? How can this be true? It was necessary, most necessary, that they should be able to work miracles, having been publicly appointed ministers of sacred proclamations. By means of their works, they then could convince men that they were the ministers of God and mediators of all beneath the heaven. The apostles then could invite them all to reconciliation and justification by faith and point out the way of salvation and of life that is this justification." (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 47)5
The Word Among Us Meditation on Ezra 9:5-9 comments that we all go through times when we drift away from the Lord or falter in living out his call for us. The “temple” of our own hearts can be broken down, cluttered by sin and in need of renovation. Like Ezra, we might feel overwhelmed by the consequences of our sins. But just as he did for Ezra and the people of Judah, God wants to “brighten our eyes.” He wants to give us the grace and strength we need to return and rebuild.
When we turn back to the Lord in repentance, he fills us with hope and the energy of the Spirit to take the steps to build up our temple. Our building materials aren’t bricks and mortar; they might be the decision to return to daily prayer or Confession or to seek the encouragement of a brother or sister in the Lord. In all these ways, God reminds us that he is with us and will give us the tools and divine grace for the task before us. “Thank you, Lord, for brightening my eyes and giving me the chance to begin again.”6
Friar Jude Winkler explores the mercy of God experienced by the High Priest, Ezra, and his response of thanksgiving. Trust Providence. God will Provide is the message of Jesus in Luke’s Gospel. Friar Jude reminds us that those who reject us may not have received the gifts of faith and courage from God.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, explores a parable, The Parable of the Ten Gold Coins, (Luke 19:11-27) that has often troubled faithful Christians, including pastors, theologians, and scripture scholars alike... This interpretation keeps us from wrongly framing the issue, as so many have done in history—by making the rich or the poor inherently bad or inherently virtuous. Individuals in both economic groups can be materialistic consumers or generous-hearted givers, just at their own scale. Paul never said money is the root of all evil, as he is often quoted to have said. He says, “the love of money is the root of all evils” (1 Timothy 6:10). This is a major difference.
When, at the individual or family level, we balance our rights with our responsibilities, money can be a moral good for all concerned. A corporation acts morally when it balances its rights to a just profit with its responsibilities for the common good—upon which it depends and profits. Most Western individualism refuses to recognize this common domain. Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Kentucky were wise to name themselves “commonwealths” instead of states, although now it has just become an empty word. When a person, a community, or a corporation does not consistently seek this balance, they no longer work for the common good. This can become a web of deceits that benefits the very few. When the dominance and enthrallment of money controls almost every aspect of life, as we largely see today, it has become a demon, beyond moral control. Today, this “demon” is destroying the common good and even “our common home,” as Pope Francis calls the planet.7
We express gratitude for the invitation to start again to build a life giving community in union with the love of the Trinity.
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