Reading 1
Ez 9:5-9
At the time of the evening sacrifice, I, Ezra, rose in my wretchedness,
and with cloak and mantle torn I fell on my knees,
stretching out my hands to the LORD, my God.
I said: “My God, I am too ashamed and confounded to raise my face to you,
O my God, for our wicked deeds are heaped up above our heads
and our guilt reaches up to heaven.
From the time of our fathers even to this day
great has been our guilt,
and for our wicked deeds we have been delivered up,
we and our kings and our priests,
to the will of the kings of foreign lands,
to the sword, to captivity, to pillage, and to disgrace,
as is the case today.
“And now, but a short time ago, mercy came to us from the LORD, our God,
who left us a remnant and gave us a stake in his holy place;
thus our God has brightened our eyes
and given us relief in our servitude.
For slaves we are, but in our servitude our God has not abandoned us;
rather, he has turned the good will
of the kings of Persia toward us.
Thus he has given us new life
to raise again the house of our God and restore its ruins,
and has granted us a fence in Judah and Jerusalem.”
Gospel
Lk 9:1-6
Jesus summoned the Twelve and gave them power and authority
over all demons and to cure diseases,
and he sent them to proclaim the Kingdom of God
and to heal the sick.
He said to them, “Take nothing for the journey,
neither walking stick, nor sack, nor food, nor money,
and let no one take a second tunic.
Whatever house you enter, stay there and leave from there.
And as for those who do not welcome you,
when you leave that town,
shake the dust from your feet in testimony against them.”
Then they set out and went from village to village
proclaiming the good news and curing diseases everywhere.
Meditation: Luke 9:1-6
Anyone who has been present at the birth of a baby would have to admit it’s a breathtaking experience.
Just seeing that new life brought forth, hearing the strong cry coming from one so fragile, and watching tears of joy wash away the effort of labor is awe-inspiring. How privileged we feel to behold it! But how much more awesome it is to witness the life of Jesus coming to birth in someone as he or she turns to the Lord in conversion. How amazing that we can behold heaven touching earth in so dramatic and personal a fashion!
What is even more amazing is that we are not simply onlookers; we can be active participants in the process. We are nothing less than essential, necessary coworkers with Jesus in his plan for salvation. In fact, Jesus has called each of us to become his hands, feet, and voice in our world today. As he did with the twelve, he has summoned us, given us a share in his power, and sent us out.
Granted, we are merely jars of clay—cracked pots, as one author put it. Still, in our weakness and frailty, Jesus wants to make us into vessels of honor, carrying within ourselves his presence and his promises. He knows that we are sinners, but he also knows that he has redeemed us. And in that redemption, he has made us a new creation. There is far more to us now than our human weakness or failings! The question is, “Will I take hold of my heritage as a child of God?”
The apostles in today’s Gospel reading “went from village to village proclaiming the good news” (Luke 9:6). They didn’t sit around waiting for something magical to happen. Limited novices though they were, they went out looking for people to convert. And guess what? God went with them and worked through them—despite their flaws.
Follow the apostles’ lead. Embrace your calling to bring people from death to life. It doesn’t take much more than an eager heart and a touch of courage. As you step out and try, you’ll find God filling the gaps in you—and changing you in the process!
“Lord, I am amazed at your awesome calling. Empty me of myself and fill me with you so that I can bring your life wherever I go!”
Ezra 9:5-9; (Psalm) Tobit 13:2-4,7-8
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