Daily Readings - Wed Oct 04 2017

First Reading - Nehemiah 2.1-8

¹Now it happened that, in the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of king Artaxerxes, wine was before him; and I lifted up the wine, and I gave it to the king. And I was like someone languishing before his face²And the king said to me: "Why is your expression sad, though you do not appear to be sick? This is not without cause, but some evil, I know not what, is in your heart." And I was struck with an exceedingly great fear³And I said to the king: "O king, live forever. Why should my expression not be mournful, since the city of the house of the sepulchers of my father is desolate, and its gates have been burned with fire?⁴And the king said to me: "What would you request?" And I prayed to the God of heaven⁵And I said to the king: "If it seems good to the king, and if your servant is pleasing before your face: that you would send me into Judea, to the city of the sepulcher of my father. And I will rebuild it.⁶And the king said to me, with the queen who was sitting beside him: "Until what time will your journey be, and when will you return?" And it was pleasing before the countenance of the king, and so he sent me. And I established a time for him⁷And I said to the king: "If it seems good to the king, may he give me letters to the governors of the region beyond the river, so that they may lead me through, until I arrive in Judea⁸and a letter to Asaph, the keeper of the king’s forest, so that he may give me timber, in order that I may be able to cover the gates of the tower of the house, and the walls of the city, and the house that I will enter." And the king granted to me in accord with the good hand of my God, who is with me

Gospel - Luke 9.57-62

Luke

Chapter 9

⁵⁷And it happened that, as they were walking along the way, someone said to him, "I will follow you, wherever you will go.⁵⁸Jesus said to him: "Foxes have dens, and the birds of the air have nests. But the Son of man has nowhere to lay his head.⁵⁹Then he said to another, "Follow me." But he said, "Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father.⁶⁰And Jesus said to him: "Let the dead bury their dead. But you go and announce the kingdom of God.⁶¹And another said: "I will follow you, Lord. But permit me first to explain this to those of my house.⁶²Jesus said to him, "No one who puts his hand to the plow, and then looks back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

Sermon

The readings today invite us to reflect on courage, trust, and commitment. In the first reading, Nehemiah, a cupbearer to the Persian king, finds himself in a moment of great opportunity. Seeing the sadness in Nehemiah’s heart, the king asks him what troubles him. Nehemiah, with great courage, shares his sorrow over the desolation of Jerusalem and its burned gates. Trusting in God’s providence, he asks the king for permission to return to Judea to rebuild the city. The king, moved by Nehemiah’s sincerity and the favor of God, grants his request. This passage reminds us that even in the face of great challenges, trusting in God’s plan and acting with courage can lead to remarkable outcomes. In the Gospel, Jesus teaches his disciples about the cost of following him. When someone offers to follow Jesus wherever he goes, Jesus responds by highlighting the sacrifices involved. He then addresses two other would-be followers, emphasizing that true discipleship requires prioritizing the kingdom of God above all else. These exchanges remind us that following Christ is not a part-time commitment but a way of life that demands our full dedication. Jesus’ words challenge us to examine our own priorities and to ensure that we are not letting worldly concerns distract us from our ultimate goal of living for God. Both readings call us to reflect on our own commitment to God and to the mission He has entrusted to us. Like Nehemiah, we are called to trust in God’s providence and to act courageously, even when the task seems daunting. Like the disciples, we are reminded that following Christ requires sacrifice and a willingness to put God first in all aspects of our lives. As we go about our daily lives, let us ask ourselves: Am I trusting in God’s plan? Am I putting God first, even when it is difficult? May we, like Nehemiah and the disciples, embrace the challenges of living out our faith with courage, trust, and unwavering commitment.