26TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
Psalter: Week 1 / (Green)
Ps 19:8, 9, 10, 11
The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
1st Reading: Neh 8:1-4a, 5-6, 7b-12
In the seventh month, all the people gathered as one man in the square before the Water Gate, and they asked Ezra to bring the book of the law of Moses, which Yahweh had given to Israel. Ezra brought the law before the assembly, both men, women and all the children who could understand what was being read. It was the first day of the seventh month. So he read it before the plaza in front of the Water Gate from dawn till noon, before the men, women and those children who could understand. All the people were eager to hear the book of the law.
Ezra, the teacher of the law, stood on a wooden platform built for that occasion; and to his right were Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah and Maaseiah; and to his left were Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hasbaddanah, Zechariah and Meshullam.
Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was in a higher place; and when he opened it, all the people stood. Ezra praised Yahweh the great God; and all the people lifted up their hands and answered, “Amen! Amen!” And they bowed their heads to the ground.
The Levites Joshua, Bani and the rest of their brothers explained the law to the people who were standing. They read from the book of the law of God, clarifying and interpreting the meaning, so that everyone might understand what they were hearing.
Then Ezra, the teacher of the law, said to the people, “This day is dedicated to Yahweh, your God, so do not be sad or weep.” He said this because all wept when they heard the reading of the law. Then he said to them, “Go and eat rich foods, drink sweet wine and share with him who has nothing prepared.
This day is dedicated to the Lord, so do not be sad. The joy of Yahweh is our strength.”
The Levites also calmed the people down, saying, “Do not weep. This day is a festival day. Do not be sad.” And the people went their way to eat, drink and share, and they had a great feast, because they had understood the words that had been proclaimed to them.
Gospel: Lk 10:1-12
After this, the Lord appointed seventy-two other disciples, and sent them, two by two, ahead of him, to every town and place, where he himself was to go. And he said to them, ”The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. So you must ask the Lord of the harvest to send workers to his harvest. Courage! I am sending you like lambs among wolves. Set off without purse or bag or sandals; and do not stop at the homes of those you know.
Whatever house you enter, first bless them, saying, ‘Peace to this house!‘ If a friend of peace lives there, the peace shall rest upon that person. But if not, the blessing will return to you. Stay in that house, eating and drinking at their table, for the worker deserves to be paid. Do not move from house to house.
When they welcome you to any town, eat what they offer you. Heal the sick who are there, and say to them: ‘The kingdom of God has drawn near to you.‘
But in any town where you are not welcome, go to the marketplace and proclaim: ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off and leave with you. But know for a certainty that the kingdom of God has drawn near to you.‘ I tell you, that on the Day of Judgment it will be better for Sodom than for this town.
REFLECTION:
The first reading brings my imagination to the Liturgy of the Word that we celebrate during the Mass. The preaching of Ezra reminds all the baptized of the fundamental duty to proclaim the Word. The people were so respectful, attentive, eager and receptive of the preaching. They found deep joy understanding the Law. ”The people went their way to eat, drink and share, and they had a great feast, because they had understood the word that had been proclaimed to them.” This is the ”Joy of the Gospel” that Pope Francis speaks in his ”Gaudium Evangelii.”
The urgency of proclaiming the gospel caused the Lord to appoint ”seventy-two other disciples, and sent them two by two” with specific instructions. The instructions were drastic and difficult. But they were given so that they will concentrate on the preaching of the Kingdom of God and not linger on the less important matters.
St. James speaks of the wise man as ”the hearer and the doer of the word of God” (1:23). To hear the word of God is a responsibility. It is both a privilege and a task. It could be one‘s salvation or condemnation. And worst, ”On the day of judgment, it will be better for Sodom” than for those who refused it.
Daily Reflection
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Biblical Texts are taken from Christian Community Bible, Catholic Pastoral Edition (57th Edition) The New English Translation for the ROMAN MISSAL
With permission from the EPISCOPAL COMMISION ON LITURGY of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines
Readings and Reflections
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