THE WORD BECAME FLESH

Wednesday of 25^th week in Ordinary Time, 2020

Ezra 9:5-9

(Ps)Tobit 13

Luke 9:1-6

He sent them out

Dear friends in Christ, the mission of every Christian is to bring the presence of Christ to people everywhere. The sending out of the twelve in today’s passage reminds us that we are all missionaries called and sent to bring the gospel truth to the world of our time.

In today’s first reading (Ezra 9:5-9), it is very clear that the exile humbled those who came back to the devastated city of Jerusalem. The exile was regarded as a punishment for the lack of faithfulness to the relationship Israel had established with God from the time of Abraham. While the exile was a pruning experience for the people, God did not abandon them. Now, the rebuilding effort, is at the same time slow and frustrating. How do you go about creating a change of attitude in a people at the brink of losing hope? Ezra himself, collapses into a day-long stupor; he fasted the whole day, and by the time he emerged at the hour of evening sacrifice, a plan of renewal dawned on him and this began with a confession of the guilt of the nation. He prayed, “O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift my face to you…for our iniquities have risen higher than our heads and our guilt have mounted up to the heavens…” Without any excuse, Ezra asked for pardon for the role played by everyone—the kings, priests, and the people, which was responsible for their captivity and the plundering of their homeland. He then prayed for God’s help to rebuild the Temple and their lives. As a nation, even though we have not gone into exile in another nation, we have suffered the plundering of our land and resources by our own people. We are at home and yet homeless; at table full of food, yet hungry; we are on the road, without a destination; in the house of God, but far from God’s will. We need a change of attitude that begins from each of us recognising our own fault, which has led our nation and our world to the brink.

In the Gospel (Luke 9:1-6) Jesus sent out his twelve disciples “And gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal.” The healing of our nation is not beyond us, that is the mission we must commit ourselves to. Commit yourself to doing what is right.

Let us pray: God our sustainer, increase your grace in us that our thoughts and actions may be geared toward acts that bring glory to your name.

+Remain blessed